Active Magazine // March 2014

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New mums’ fitness plan How to get back in shape while looking after your new baby

ISSUE 21 // MARCH 2014

STA M FOR D & RU T L A N D’S SPORT A N D L E I S U R E M AGA Z I N E

A great life!

ISSUE 21 // MARCH 2014

Read our new section full of nature, food, places, fitness and hobbies Hare’s Ears, Wooly Worms & Zug Bugs

Plus

Round-ups, bike rides, dog training and walks

Battered!

We test the cricket season’s best new blades

How to tie flies a trout just can’t refuse

Rocket girls Rutland’s top netball team

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BELMESTHORPE, RUTLAND

£975,000

Perched on the edge of this tranquil village, Brookfield House is an attractive stone property set in lovely gardens which run down to the river Gwash and border open countryside. Built of local stone with a Collyweston slate roof, the house itself has been extended over the years to create a welcoming and practical family home with flexible accommodation, including the benefit of a self-contained Annexe located above the Garage.

DEEPING ST JAMES, LINCOLNSHIRE

£599,995

St Benedict’s Priory is a handsome stone farmhouse with a fine historic heritage and wealth of period features. In a secluded location which was the site of a twelfth century priory, the farmhouse was built for a gentleman farmer in the seventeenth century and his social standing and affluence are reflected in the property’s fine architecture and magnificent interior detailing – much of which remains today.

Fine & Country

2 St. Mary’s Street, Stamford, Lincs PE9 2DE Telephone: (01780) 750200 Email: stamford@fineandcountry.com www.fineandcountry.com

STAMFORD, LINCOLNSHIRE

£795,000

The Elm sits within extensive gardens, set back from a leafy residential road in the heart of Stamford. The original brick-built house and its Coach House date from the 1920’s - some internal period features remain, whilst all the main reception rooms benefit from high ceilings, large windows and plenty of natural light. Over the years the house has seen successive additions, and has grown into an impressive property with elegant living space and extensive and flexible accommodation.

NASSINGTON, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE

£675,000

The Old Bakery is a handsome detached house, located in the heart of this vibrant and friendly village. Occupying the site of the village bakery, the house has a lovely local stone façade, a slate roof and many windows which flood the interior with natural light. The property has recently been thoroughly extended and updated to create an elegant home with classically proportioned rooms and an open flow around the main living rooms and out to the garden, making it ideal for both family life and for entertaining.

Publisher Chris Meadows chris@theactivemag.com Editor Steve Moody steve@theactivemag.com Deputy Editor Mary Bremner mary@theactivemag.com Production Editor Julian Kirk julian@theactivemag.com Art Editor Mark Sommer mark@theactivemag.com Contributors Martin Johnson, William Hetherington, Dean Cornish, Sandie Hurford, Jeremy Beswick, Julia Dungworth Photographers Nico Morgan, Harry Measures, Jon Clarke, Pip Warters Production Assistant Abigail Sharpe Advertising Sales Rachel Meadows rachel@theactivemag.com Lisa Withers lisa@theactivemag.com Accounts Amy Roberts amy@theactivemag.com Active magazine, The Grey House, 3 Broad Street, Stamford, PE9 1PG. Tel: 01780 480789 A member of the Stamford Chamber of Trade and Commerce If you have information on a club then get in touch by emailing editor@theactivemag.com. If you would like to stock Active magazine then email distribution@ theactivemag.com. If you would like to discuss advertising possibilities please email advertise@ theactivemag.com Active magazine is published 12 times per year on a monthly basis. Distributed by Grassroots Publishing Ltd. ISSN 2049-8713

EDITOR’S LETTER EVER SINCE WE LAUNCHED ACTIVE SOME 18 months ago, I’ve always had a little phrase to try and explain to people what we do: “if it gets you up off your sofa, it’s Active”. After all, not everyone can do an ironman triathlon or play tighthead in the scrum.

So this month, in recognition of the fact that this magazine is about more than sport, but about living a healthier, more interesting life, we launch our great new section Active Life, featuring interesting places to go and things to see and do.

We hope you enjoy it, and we’ll be adding new subjects to it over the coming months. So if you run a course or business, or have a hobby that you think might be of interest to our readers, I’d love to hear from you. My email address is over there, to the left of this piece.

Also, this month, we have a look at the world of fly tying, some useful quick fitness tips for new mums on the permanent go (after all, with a new baby it’s pretty hard to do anything else), dog training and walks, and we talk to the area’s most successful netball side, the Rutland Rockets.

There’s also all the usual sporting news and round-ups and, happily, a test of this season’s new cricket bats. This means that spring must be on its way, after this appalling winter of rain and high winds. Thank goodness for that.

Thanks, Steve

A Grassroots Publishing Limited company. Registration company number 7994437. VAT number 152717318 Disclaimer

Copyright (c) Grassroots Publishing Limited (GPL) 2014. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, or be stored in any retrieval system, of any nature, without prior permission from GPL. Any views or opinions expressed do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of GPL or its affiliates. Disclaimer of Liability. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the quality and accuracy of the information contained in this publication at the time of going to press, GPL and its affiliates assume no responsibility as to the accuracy or completeness of and, to the extent permitted by law, shall not be liable for any errors or omissions or any loss, damage or expense incurred by reliance on information or any statement contained in this publication.

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Twitter // @theACTIVEmag Facebook // www.facebook.com/theACTIVEmag

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Contents

ISSUE 21 /// MARCH 2014

11

ACTIVE LIFE 11 NEWS

Walk your way to fitness with Nordic walking

12-13 NEWS

Get your bike in shape for the spring

15 CRAFTS

Willow weaving at Rutland Water

17 NATURE

What to do in the garden this month

18-19 HEALTH AND WELLBEING

The latest advice to help you feel fitter and healthier

21 EATING BETTER

A healthy spinach and leek soup recipe

24 WEEKEND AWAY Peugeot’s new 308 tested

25 INTERVIEW

Dave Laventure interviews two of the area’s rising stars

FEATURES 32-37 NETBALL

28

32

We meet the Rutland Rockets and discover why netball has taken off in a big way locally

38-43 MUM FITNESS

Expert advice on how to get back in shape post-pregnancy, with a host of activities and tips to try out

44-47 FLY TYING

Chris Meadows delves into the strange world of fly tying and discovers a world of boobies and zug bugs

REGULARS 49 SPORTSMAN’S DINNER

Will and Wendy dine at Stamford’s Mad Turk

50-51 GREAT WALKS

Will Hetherington and Ella head out to Greetham

38

52-53 PET ADVICE

Using resources to help train your dog

55 TRIATHLON TRAINING

This month it’s a 34-mile loop from Stamford to Bulwick

56-59 SCHOOL SPORT

Our focus on the latest achievements from local pupils

60-66 ROUND-UP

How clubs in the Stamford and Rutland area are getting on

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In Play

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Midnight golfers

NICO MORGAN

Golf is difficult enough in daylight, but intrepid players at Stapleford Park teed off in pitch darkness last month to raise money for the county’s air ambulance appeal. Neon sticks were used to mark the boundaries of the tees, fairways and greens and a blue glow stick was attached to the flags, while the 10 teams of four were issued with special ‘glow in the dark’ golf balls – none of which were lost on the night.

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In Play

Air play The stormy winter hasn’t been a total waste: for the windsurfers on Rutland Water, it has meant high speeds and extreme air. It’s just the landing that’s the problem.

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ANDY BALMFORD

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SPLASH Spring in to

at

South Street • Oakham • Rutland • LE15 6BG • www.cavellscountry.co.uk

www.rutlandcycling.com

SEE OUR NEW SEASON CLOTHING IN STORE NOW !

SEE OUR RANGE OF TRI CLOTHING TOO !

AVAILABLE FROM BIKE HIRE AVAILABLE AT ALL CENTRES OVER 400 BIKES ON DISPLAY, BRITAIN’S PREMIER BIKE RETAILER Rutland Cycling. Bull Brigg Lane, Rutland Water LE15 8BL Tel: 01780 460705 Giant Store Rutland. Normanton Car Park, Rutland Water LE15 8HD Tel: 01780 720888 Grafham Cycling. Marlow Car Park, Grafham Water, Cambridge PE28 0BH Tel: 01480 812500 Fineshade Cycling. Top Lodge, Fineshade Woods, Northants NN17 3BB Tel: 01780 440899

Activelife GREAT THINGS TO DO, PLACES TO SEE, PEOPLE TO MEET BLEND IMAGES / ALAMY

// Edited by Mary Bremner

HEALTH AND FITNESS

Walking your way to fitness Are you still on a mission to get fit this year but lost a bit of motivation? Try Nordic Walking – you can burn up to 400 calories per hour compared to 280 if you’re just walking normally. Your muscular strength will improve, as will your posture. You’ll become more flexible, your mood should improve because of all those endorphins, it’s sociable and you’ll be spending time outside enjoying the delights of Rutland.

Nordic Walking isn’t just walking with poles, you plant the poles behind you to propel you along. This uses the upper body as well as the legs making it easier to work quite hard – and suitable for all levels of fitness.

Get Lost in Rutland is offering free 45-minute taster sessions so you can give it a try before committing to a technique course.

Once you’ve done the course you can join them for either a wellness walk which is a two mile walk to help build up fitness or the workout one which is four miles at a much faster pace.

To find out more visit www.getlostinrutland.co.uk or call 01572 868712.

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Activelife CYCLING

Spring into bike action

CHARITY CORNER

Claire’s hard as nails running marathon

To mark the start of spring, the team at Rutland Cycling is celebrating with a Giant Bike Ride. Taking in the sights and sounds of Rutland Water, the ride will take place on Sunday, March 23, meeting at the Giant store, Normanton Car Park to set off at 10am.

Covering the full 23 miles of mainly traffic-free trail, the ride is the ideal opportunity to get out a er a long winter hibernating on the sofa and enjoy that first breath of fresh spring air.

Led by rides and events co-ordinator Lee Wigginton, no rider will get le behind. Bring the whole family with reduced rates on hire bikes (pre-booked bikes only). The ride will probably last between three and four hours.

Book your place by calling the Giant Rutland Water team on 01780 720 888 or emailing info@ giant-rutland.co.uk

Disability charity Papworth Trust has recruited novice runner Claire Jaggard from Stamford for this year’s Virgin London Marathon. Claire, a gel nail technician at Stamford Beauty, has already been training for several months.

Claire was inspired to enter the marathon and raise funds for Papworth Trust by her friend, Luke Jeffries (pictured above with Claire), who has Downs Syndrome and receives support from the charity. He attends Papworth Trust’s Peterborough youth club which provides disabled young people with somewhere to go to make new friends and have fun.

Claire, 32, is aiming to raise ÂŁ1,600 and explains: “It has always been an ambition of mine to run the marathon –something to tick off the list. My colleagues and customers are being really supportive and I’m donating all my tips until the event to help reach my target.â€?

Visit www.justgiving.com/claire-jaggard

Charity ball Laura Keeley is at it again. Three years ago she organised a successful black tie event which raised ÂŁ5,000 for Help for Heroes.

This year she is hosting a charity dinner and auction at Barnsdale Lodge on March 22 to raise money for Help for Heroes and The East Midlands Air Ambulance Service.

It is being held in memory of Alex McSorley, a local ex-serviceman turned paramedic who died suddenly last year. His daughter, Heather, is helping to organise the event.

Tickets are priced at ÂŁ45 to include a three-course meal and a free raffle ticket.

It’s black tie, strictly over 18s, starting at 7.30pm with dinner at 8pm. There will be a raffle, auction and then dancing.

Many local companies have kindly donated to the raffle. Laura is still welcoming donations so anyone who is interested in giving a prize or buying tickets should contact Laura on laura@ blackterrierevents.co.uk

CYCLING

Brush the cobwebs off your bike It’s time to service your bike and get it ready for riding again. To help with this Rutland Cycling is teaming up with Hope Technology to run four weekly courses throughout March, starting on Thursday, March 6.

The course will cover standard maintenance, wheel and brake advice and bike fit and suspension. You will be shown the real specifics of bike maintenance and repair, with Hope sponsoring the series by providing wheels, hubs and brakes for attendees to use during the evenings.

The course will cost ÂŁ40 for the four sessions.

Places are limited so booking is necessary. Book your place by calling 01780 460 705.

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ACTIVE KIDS

Dancing kids Active-Creative is a franchise that runs dance classes for children aged from two to teenagers. Dinky Dancers (2-4 year olds) runs classes in the community or within nurseries and schools. The classes combine fun, high energy musical and physical skills designed to develop motor skills such as rolling, jumping, hopping and skipping – and the kids love it. A franchise has now been set up in this area by Emma Walkland, who is running classes in Stamford, Ryhall, Bourne and Rippingale.

If you would like to chat to Emma about running classes in your school, nursery or village hall give her a ring. She’s offering a free trial class. Call 01780 591469 or email emmawalkland@active-creative.com and for more information on Dinky Dancers go to www.dinkydancers.com

Charity run pays off for Castor school

Above

A series of new dance classes for children has started in and around Stamford and Bourne

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The children from Castor Primary School have been rewarded with new sports kits as a reward for raising the most money for local charity Anna’s Hope.

The school took part in the 2013 Perkins Great Eastern Run Challenge and raised £2,126.

For six years ChromaSport Schoolwear and Trophies have supported the incentive for schools and young people’s groups to enter the

Junior Challenge in the 5k Fun Run and were ‘delighted’ to donate the kit to Castor Primary.

As well as raising the most money the school also entered the most runners so were presented with a television by Sainsbury’s.

And to top it all off Castor pupil Leo Bailey won a Nintendo Wii game, donated by Sainsbury’s, for being the boy who raised the most money for Anna’s Hope.

10/12/2013 21:49

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2072 GPL-CSC Half Page Active Advert_GPL-CSC Half Page Active Advert 20/02/2014 09:09 Page 1

CHURCHILL SUMMER CAMPS MULTI-ACTIVITY HOLIDAYS FOR CHILDREN AGED 4 – 14 Our OFSTED registered Camps, which have been running in the area for well over 20 years, provide a wide range of over 30 fun activities to keep your child entertained in the school holidays.

Bouncy castles | Quad bikes | MegaBall pond | Arts and Crafts | Curling | Fencing Snooker | Badge making | Bread making | Kwik cricket | Archery | Shooting | Football Bouncy slide | Crossbows | Tennis | Swimming | Orienteering | Computer games Disco | Air hockey | Uni-hoc | Adventure playground | Bodyrock | Baking Fun quiz | Fancy dress | Ball games | Golf | Nature trail | And many more!

All staff are CRB/DBS checked and have the necessary experience and training to deliver the extensive range of activities we offer. We pride ourselves on the quality of our childcare and our excellent staff ratios.

BASED AT STAMFORD JUNIOR SCHOOL 7 – 11 APRIL, 7 – 11 JULY, 14 – 18 JULY, 21 – 25 JULY, 28 JULY – 1 AUGUST, 4 – 8 AUGUST, 11 – 15 AUGUST, 18 – 22 AUGUST

BASED AT BROOKE PRIORY SCHOOL, OAKHAM 21 – 25 JULY 28 JULY – 1 AUGUST

BASED AT THE PETERBOROUGH SCHOOL 14 – 17 APRIL, 27 – 30 MAY, 7 – 11 JULY 14 – 18 JULY, 21 – 25 JULY, 28 JULY – 1 AUGUST, 4 – 8 AUGUST 11 – 15 AUGUST, 27 – 31 OCTOBER 15 – 19 DECEMBER

Monday – Friday 9.30am – 4.30pm. Early and late care available from 8am – 6pm.

WE ACCEPT PAYMENT BY CHILDCARE VOUCHERS. ASK FOR MORE INFORMATION WHEN BOOKING. For further information or to make a booking: Telephone: 01780 753461 | Email:info@churchillsummercamps.co.uk | www.churchillsummercamps.co.uk

C DORLING KINDERSLEY

Activelife

CRAFTS

Willow weaving at Rutland Water Are you going to be growing sweet peas or climbers this summer? If so have a go at willow weaving. A course is being run on March 15 from 10am-12pm at the bird watching centre at Egleton. You will be taught how to make a six-foot high plant support. The cost of the course is £20 per person. To find out more and to book your space ring 01572 770651.

WELL BEING

Active oldies Interested in walking, gardening, bird watching, or anything else you can think of? If so, and you are of a ‘certain age’, why not join the Stamford U3A? It organises events ranging from antiques to wine and lots in between – Scottish Strathspey dancing? You can do that. A bit of singing? Tick. Church visiting and drama? Join up and the world is your oyster. This group gets you out and about meeting like-minded people.

The U3A is part of the University of the Third Age and is aimed at people who are mainly retired or no longer working full-time. Anyone can join and are more than welcome. Their aim is to provide education, creative and leisure opportunities and when you look at their list of groups there’s plenty of scope.

The group meets on the first Monday of every month at 10am for coffee at Barn Hill Methodist Church in Stamford. They’re a friendly bunch and you are welcome to go along as a visitor before deciding if you wish to join.

For more information contact membership secretary Jim Guthrie on 01780 752755 or email jim@stamfordU3A.co.uk

CYCLING

Ride with global adventurer Sarah Outen On March 18, local girl and adventurer Sarah Outen will be leading cyclists on a night ride through the trails around Hambleton peninsula.

She will then head back to Rutland Cycling’s Whitwell store for a talk entitled London 2 London via the world’. Sarah will be talking about her adventure so far, with ‘Pacific 2.0 - 150 days alone on the wide, wide sea’ being the focus of the evening. Every part of her journey is to be completed solely by her using human power alone.

As part of her preparation for the next part of

her trip, kayaking from Adak Island, Alaska, to the nearest road in Alaska – a distance of more than 1,500 miles, Sarah has been cross training with a Giant bike on loan from Rutland Cycling.

Paul Archer, chairman of Rutland Cycling, was there for a recent talk held at Oakham School. He said: “It was great to be able to hear about Sarah’s incredible journey with the highs and lows that come with this mammoth expedition.

“I was truly astounded by her accomplishments and we at Rutland Cycling wish her every success for the next part of her journey.”

Sarah will be flying out to the Aleutian Islands to start the next part of her trek a er rowing solo across the Pacific Ocean.

A er her 1,500 mile kayak she then intends to cycle across Canada and the US before rowing back across the Atlantic to the UK, ending her epic journey on bike to London in late 2015.

For more information about Sarah’s ride and other events at Rutland Cycling, contact Kerry Rough on 01572 737626, email kerry.rough@ rutlandcycling.co.uk or visit the website at www.rutlandcycling.com

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2049 GPL-GLR Half Page Advert_GPL-GLR Half Page Advert 04/02/2014 17:02 Page 1

Last chance to get 2013 tents at great prices before new season tents come in.

Start planning your summer camping trip now!

www.getlostinrutland.co.uk Open 7 days a week e. info@getlostinrutland.co.uk t. 01572 868712 Rutland Village, Ashwell Road, Oakham, Rutland, LE15 7QN

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© DK / ALAMY

Activelife

GROW YOUR OWN

Allotment corner Vegetables picked from the garden have so much more flavour than shop bought ones and the added pleasure of eating something that you have grown yourself is unequalled.

March is the perfect month to start planting vegetables. What to plant in March: parsnips, early potatoes, onions and asparagus Vegetables in season this month: purple sprouting broccoli, carrots, leeks, spinach, Brussels sprouts and artichokes.

GARDENING

In the garden this month March is really the beginning of the year in gardening terms as the first spring flowers begin to bloom, most plants start to grow a er their winter dormancy and the ground hopefully becomes workable a er the winter.

Over the winter you will have been planning your garden so now your thoughts can turn to planting and pruning – but remember it is still quite likely to be frosty at night.

One of the main jobs in March is to prune roses – this helps maintain healthy, shapely growth, keeps the shape of the plant and encourages

large blooms. Cut out diseased and frost damaged wood and prune back harshly.

Dig over your herbaceous borders and plant new plants.

Look out for daffodils coming into flower and see who can be the first to spot primroses in the hedgerows. And suddenly you will notice the distinctive purple of the grape hyacinth popping up in the garden. If it is mild towards the end of the month it might be suitable to cut the grass for the first time. And if you fertilise your lawn, the end of March is the time to do it.

BIRDLIFE

Birdlife: ospreys and red kites In our new monthly column, Terry Mitcham of Rutland Water gives tips on where to see our feathered friends.

In recent years birds of prey have made a remarkable comeback. The Rutland Water Osprey project enables us to watch these stunning birds at close quarters on Lyndon reserve, and they will return in mid-March to rear two or three young before returning to west Africa for the winter.

Fishing ospreys range widely with regular sightings from Eyebrook, Horn Mill, Fort Henry and even Burghley Park lake. They are easily mistaken for large gulls as they soar over open water. Look for a buzzard-sized bird, dark brown above and white below with a brown mask through the eye. Watch for birds hovering clumsily over the water before making a spectacular dive on to an unsuspecting fish.

Between 1995 and 1998, 70 red kites were released in Rockingham Forest. Difficult to miss

as they hunt over open country and local villages, they are regularly seen over Stamford. and Rutland. Easily identified by their long forked tail, five-foot wingspan and white patches beneath the wing, it is difficult to believe that by 1901 the British population was down to less than 10 pairs in remote Welsh valleys.

Roadkill provides red kites with much of their food but they will catch rooks or woodpigeons in the nest and hunt small mammals.

NATURE

If you go down to the woods today …..

When you’re out in the woods do you always recognise the trees or do you struggle to identify them? See if you can spot these two next time you’re out and about…

ASH Ash before oak and we’re in for a soak… let’s hope not! O en the last to come into leaf and the first to lose them in the autumn.

Did you know the ash is related to olive, jasmine and lilacs?

The Woodland Trust has come up with this handy twig spotter sheet – download it and take it with you next time you’re out for a walk.

OAK Oak before ash and barely a splash. The traditional way to predict forthcoming summer weather. A natural antiseptic, our forefathers used these twigs as toothbrushes. Chew the end first to fray it…

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Activelife

Health and wellness Everything a woman needs to be fit, healthy and fantastic

DIET WARS: men are the biggest losers

// Edited by Sandie Hurford

A weight loss poll shows that men have greater success than women in losing weight.

According to a YouGov survey commissioned by www. nutracheck.co.uk, men are more likely to comply with keeping a food and exercise diary, which helps them to lose more weight than women. Men are twice as likely to use an online and app diet system like Nutracheck than attend a weight loss club, and also likely to stay registered for longer than women. Men also lost a greater percentage of their body weight than women – 5.9% v 4.6% (comparing over an average of 1,000 diary entries).

Nutritionist Janet Aylott believes there are several reasons why men are more likely to triumph in the weight loss stakes.

“It’s probably no real surprise that men are more successful when it comes to the battle of weight loss. Men are less likely to have ‘yo-yo’ dieted over the years

so approach losing weight without the ‘emotional baggage’ that many women have.

There is also not quite the same pressure on men to have the ‘perfect’ body size and shape.

“Physiologically men have another advantage, too – with greater body muscle than women, they have more capability to burn calories – so it’s a double whammy when it comes to trying to lose those extra pounds!”

However, fewer men actually attempt to diet (men 44 % v women 75%), despite the fact that statistically there are more obese men than women in the UK (65% men v 59% women).

The survey also highlighted the UK’s diet ‘hotspots’ – areas where dieting amongst men is most prevalent.

In the East of England, 70% of adult males surveyed admitted to having been on a diet.

The North came bottom with 55% of men dieting.

Pets are key to slimming success The UK obesity epidemic is not restricted to people. Whilst 65% of UK adults are now overweight or obese, one third of pets in the UK are also overweight. But as a nation of selfprofessed animal lovers, we are concerned about the wellbeing of our pets.

According to a nationwide YouGov weight loss survey commissioned by online calorie counter and food diary Nutracheck.co.uk, 74% of animal owners may even go as far as dieting alongside their pets. As a nation of animal lovers, we want to keep them healthy and avoid obesity-related disorders such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and cancers.

Our lifestyle is affecting our pets. Over- weight owners are more likely to have obese pets as they are less likely to exercise, which can mean less walks for their dog. They are also more inclined to overfeed their pets with treats and are less likely to recognise the signs of obesity in their pet.

Being more active is a challenge for many slimmers, so increasing their own exercise level by taking their dog running or for a long walk is a win-win all round.

The problem is also in overfeeding pets.

Research shows that a whopping 98% of people give their dogs treats, with 42% of owners giving their pets daily treats.

Vet Sade Adeleye says: “A biscuit for a dog is the equivalent of a hamburger for a human! The more aware we are of what we eat ourselves, the more aware we are of the calorific value of treats we give our dogs. Additional exercise is beneficial for dogs as well as owners and having a focus on your own lifestyle helps keep your pet in tip-top condition.”

New research has also revealed that our pets are the most positive influence in kick-starting a healthy lifestyle, encouraging us to ditch an evening in front of the TV for the great outdoors.

A survey conducted by pet brand Fish4Dogs found that 90% of us were more likely to exercise if it was something our dog could do with us.

The survey of 800 people found that over a quarter have taken up agility as an extra activity with their dog and a further 60% would consider upping our exercise programme if our pooches could take part too.

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One in every six children is obese

Exercise is key as our lives become more sedentary

REVEALED: the fattest towns in England Official statistics have shown that more than three- quarters of people in some English towns are overweight or obese, as couch potato lifestyles and unhealthy diets become the norm.

The data, published by Public Health England, revealed that overall 64% of adults in England are overweight or obese – with a body mass index (BMI) of 25 or over, with Copeland in west Cumbria being the fattest local authority area (75.9%).

Locally, we’re pretty average, with Rutland home to 65.6% of overweight residents, East Northants 69% and South Kesteven 68.2%.

Tam Fry, of the National Obesity Forum and chairman of the Child Growth Foundation, said the figures were “almost criminal” and he feared that in some parts of the country the problem had become “insurmountable”.

He said: “This problem has been 40 years in the making - since the 1970s and 1980s we’ve seen the growth of convenience foods and fast foods, and a reliance on microwaves, and meanwhile our lifestyles have become more sedentary, with more time in front of the computers and television.”

Fry said separate figures, which show the rate of obesity doubling between the ages of four and 10, indicated that trends are likely to worsen in the future.

Research forecasts have revealed that one in four Britons will soon expend little more energy than if they spent all day in bed.

Public health experts said sedentary habits in this country were responsible for 17% of premature deaths, with an impact on health that costs the economy more than £8bn a year.

The new figures show that the fattest county is Cumbria, with 68.3% of people overweight or obese, followed by North Yorkshire and Staffordshire, both on 67.9%.When overall regions are compared, the fattest is the North East, where 68% of people are overweight or obese, followed by the West Midlands at 65.7%.

Professor Kevin Fenton, director of health and wellbeing at PHE, said: “There is no silver bullet to reducing obesity; it is a complex issue that requires action at individual, family, local and national levels. We can all play our part in this by eating a healthy balanced diet and being more active.”

Recent statistics show that almost one in ten Northamptonshire children are obese when they start school and a quarter are obese or overweight. By year six, more than one in six Northamptonshire children are obese and a third are overweight or obese.

Obese children are more likely to be ill, to be absent from school due to illness, to experience health-related limitations and to require more medical care than normal weight children.

Overweight and obese children are also more likely to become obese adults and have a greater risk of ill health, disability and premature mortality in adulthood.

Northamptonshire County Council has made childhood obesity a priority to tackle, and the health and wellbeing strategy taken is to incorporate technology into exercise patterns for children alongside healthy eating patterns.

At an event organised by the council, experts looked at innovative ways to reduce childhood and young adult obesity.

Councillor Robin Brown, cabinet member for public health and wellbeing, said: “It’s vital that we look at new ways to reduce childhood and young adult obesity and improve the health of the county’s children.

“We know that children and young people enjoy using the latest technology and so it makes sense that we look at how we can harness its potential to motivate behavioural change such as increased physical activity and healthier eating.”

The county council’s public health service hosted the event, which also involved representatives from local CCGs and health organisations, voluntary and community sector organisations, education and childcare professionals and more.

Reducing these statistics has been identified as a key priority in Northamptonshire’s health and wellbeing strategy and this event will be an opportunity to explore how innovation can be used to tackle this growing problem.

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ACUPUNCTURE The Alternative

ACUPUNCTURE AWARENESS WEEK

3-10 MARCH 2014 Raising awareness of the benefits of acupuncture This year’s focus is Acupuncture for Back Pain.

Did you know that the use of acupuncture in the treatment of back pain is endorsed by The National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) And The World Health Organisation?

Experience the benefits for yourself.

During Acupuncture Awareness Week Corinne is offering a free 20 minute consultation and a further 10% off any appointments booked for back pain To find out more ring Corinne Alexander BA(Hons) LicAc MBAcC

07737 172939

Corinne Alexander Acupuncture 2 Scotgate Mews | Scotgate | Stamford | PE9 2FX www.corinnealexander.co.uk

Activelife

EAT WELL

Catch your own dinner

RECIPE IDEA

Spinach and leek soup

2014 is turning out to be the year of eating healthily and learning something new in this office. And there’s nothing quite as satisfying as sourcing your own food. You can grow your own veg, keep hens for eggs, or, to take going back to nature a step further, you can catch your own fish.

I don’t think you can beat spending a day out on a boat fishing and then taking that fish home and cooking it for the family.

But you need to learn how to fish first. That’s where Rutland Water can help. They run a beginners’ course and will supply all the

equipment, coffee and lunch. You’ll be taught how to cast, where to find the fish, how to use the tackle, what to use and why.

The courses run between 9am and 5pm, at least weekly, and cost £75 for an adult or £50 for a junior. They’ll soon have you up to speed so hopefully you will no longer have to sing for your supper but can provide your own.

For more details contact the fishing lodge at Edith Weston on 01780 686441. // Fancying tying a fly? See pages 44-47 for our feature.

FOOD AND DRINK

A pint-sized pub There’s a new pub in town – a big hitter, but absolutely tiny. If you like your real ales and don’t want to see lager or alcopops behind the bar, head over to Spalding to the Prior’s Oven in the Sheep Market.

This tiny pub, the smallest in Spalding in its oldest building, is part of the micropub phenomena. These pubs are popping up in towns all over the country in converted buildings. They are tiny with no jukeboxes or slot machines.

Back to basics, good quality beer, o en locally produced and good wines. What more do you need?

Spinach and leeks are in season this month so why not try this delicious soup. If you can use home grown vegetables even better. What could be more warming at this time of year than a bowl of healthy, nourishing soup? This recipe is very easy to make and low in calories.

Ingredients 2 tbsp olive oil 1 onion 2 crushed garlic cloves 2 sliced leeks 500ml chicken or vegetable stock 3 handfuls of spinach 1/2tsp nutmeg salt and pepper Method Heat the oil then gently sweat the onions and garlic over a medium heat, stirring occasionally for 2-3 minutes.

Add the leek and cook for a further 2 minutes.

Add the stock, bring to the boil and then simmer for 5 minutes.

Stir the spinach in until wilted, add nutmeg and season with salt and pepper to taste.

Pour the mixture into a blender and blend until smooth.

Serve with fresh crusty bread – delicious!

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Ashwell Road Oakham Rutland LE15 7QH

Equine Hospital, Referral Centre and Equine Fertility Services We are a long established equine hospital with purpose built facilities and an extensive range of diagnostic equipment. As a clinical associate of the University of Nottingham Vet School we benefit from their specialist staff who work alongside our experienced veterinary surgeons and nurses.

Together they provide the highest level of veterinary care and expertise as required by our RCVS Tier 3 hospital status. A complete equine veterinary service is available from routine yard visits to specialist diagnostics and surgery.

✓ 24 hour emergency service available at yard or hospital

✓ MRI and Scintigraphy

✓ Competitively priced yard visits

✓ Specialist medicine and surgery

✓ Routine healthcare including vaccinations, passport ID, microchipping and dentistry

✓ In house lab providing rapid results

✓ Prior to Purchase examinations ✓ Digital Radiography, Ultrasonography, Endoscopy and Gastroscopy

✓ Weekly remedial farriery clinic

✓ BEVA approved AI service ✓ DEFRA approved semen collection, freezing, storage and distribution to the UK and Europe ✓ 24 hour, CCTV monitored foaling service

www.oakhamvethospital.co.uk find us on Facebook

Equine: 01572 722647

Activelife

HEALTH

Does your back need the needles?

Acupuncture week March 3-10 Is your back killing you? You’re not alone – 80% of people suffer from back pain, much of it caused by poor posture and sedentary lifestyles.

Well now’s the time for some action – and acupuncture might be the answer. It really doesn’t hurt and can be very effective, particularly for persistent, non specific, lower back pain, A new study shows we are risking a back pain epidemic caused by unhealthy habits and sedentary lifestyles. It found that almost half of the nation admit to eating on their lap, 40% complain they sit at a desk all day and more than a third admit to watching TV or films in bed. When asked about their posture, almost a third also admitted they slouch most of the time.

Further results reveal that when it comes to dealing with back pain, 74% say they repeatedly use painkillers to deal with their discomfort rather than addressing the root cause of the problem.

Where to go Acupuncture week runs from March 3 to 10 and to help promote this Corinne Alexander from Aquilia Acupuncture in Stamford is offering a free 20-minute consultation. Call her on 07737 172939 or visit her website at www.corinnealexander.co.uk for details. Saturday appointments are available.

The Broad Street Practice will be holding a free talk for anybody interested in traditional acupuncture on March 4 at 7pm. Free 15 minute consultations will also be available throughout acupuncture week.

Contact the clinic on 01780 480889 or go to the website at www. thebroadstreetpractice.co.uk for details.

EVENTS

Success for Burghley Horse Trials The Burghley Horse Trials have won global recognition and been voted the best horse trials event in the world by international equestrian yearbook L’Année Hippique.

The awards, which were launched in 1987, invite riders from the three Olympic equestrian disciplines of dressage, eventing and show jumping to nominate their favourite shows based on stabling, ground conditions, course preparation and prize money.

This is the seventh year that Burghley Horse Trials has been selected meaning that the Stamford-based event has won the award more o en than any other eventing competition.

International eventer and chairman of Eventing Riders Association, Francis Whittington, said: ”Burghley Horse Trials isn’t just special because it

is one of the premier four-star events in the world; it is also one of the friendliest events where nothing is too much trouble. It is this atmosphere that is loved by members of the public and riders alike.”

Event director Elizabeth Inman added: “To win this award for the seventh time is hugely rewarding. It is a great reflection on all the hard work that goes on behind the scenes, particularly that of our competition secretary Anne Whitton.

“There are so many other unsung heroes at Burghley Horse Trials, from the stable managers to the hundreds of volunteers who give up their time. The fact that it is the riders who vote makes the win particularly special.” // This year’s horse trials will run from September 4 to 7.

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Activelife HEALTH

Need to adjust your lifestyle?

A new private GP practice has opened in Stamford The Private GP service is being offered at The Broad Street Practice by Dr Nigel Hume, who qualified in 1986 and has been a local GP for many years.

A detailed medical history and thorough examination allows in-depth evaluation of the patient and their health concerns, and possible treatment is rooted in lifestyle changes and exercise, limiting prescribing drugs to only what is really necessary .

Nigel can also offer medicals, health checks, second opinions, reviews of medications and assessment of complex presentations, and he will liaise closely with your NHS doctor.

You can contact Nigel on 07715 880090, visit www.thebroadstreetpractice.co.uk or www. tabletavoidingdoctor.co.uk or call The Broad Street Practice on 01780 480889.

EVENT

Charity dinner Black terrier events is organising a charity event at Barnsdale Lodge at the end of the month.

Organiser Laura said: “It is the second time I’ve organised a function of this nature, the first being in 2011, again at Barnsdale Lodge, raising money for Help for Heroes. The event attracted 150 guests and raised £5,000 through ticket sales and an auction of prizes. The auction prizes were kindly donated by a range of companies, many of whom have stepped forward to support the 2014 event.

“This year, the event is again being hosted by Barnsdale Lodge – without their support this event would not be able to run, and we are overwhelmed at their repeated generosity.

“The money this year will be split between Help for Heroes and The East Midlands Air Ambulance Service.

“It is being held in memory of Alex McSorley, a local ex-serviceman turned paramedic who suddenly passed away last year. His daughter, Heather, is actively involved in the organisation of this event and is really touched by the support shown in Alex’s memory.”

The last few tickets are available – priced at £45 to include a three course sit down meal, coffee, chocolate, and a free raffle ticket. The evening is strictly over 18s and black tie, starting at 7.30pm with dinner at 8pm, eight guests per table. The evening will feature a raffle, auction, and then dancing to local DJ ‘Roobinz’.

Donations for the auction and raffle, and any parties interested in donating, or purchasing tickets, should email laura@blackterrierevents. co.uk

DRIVEN

Peugeot 308 The new 308 is high quality, fuel efficient and good value. It might even be better than a Golf, says Chris Meadows This new Peugeot 308 is the firm’s best-looking lower-medium design since the still stylish 306 ended production in 2002. It’s wider, lower and shorter than the 308 it replaces, and with arches stretched over wheels up to 18-inches in diameter it has strong on-road presence.

Under the skin is Peugeot’s all-new modular platform, which allows compatibility with the group’s diesel-electric Hybrid4 and Hybrid Air drivetrains, but is incredibly light weight too, contributing half of the 140kg weight saving over the previous car. It means the 308 is lighter than the equivalent 207 was, with benefits for agility and efficiency as a result.

While the 1.6-litre e-HDI 115 is a great fit here, and now a little more fuel efficient, the lighter body helps less powerful e-HDI 92 feel almost as nippy on the road, while CO2 emissions of 93g/km will cut a chunk off the running costs. It’s slower, but not significantly so. New three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engines are scheduled to arrive soon too.

The latest models to join the range have all enjoyed strongest demand for the highest trim levels, and Peugeot expects this to be true for the 308.

The two range-topping trims feature slimmer and more attractive all-LED headlamps and reshaped front bumper, which make it look more of a premium product than lower versions.

Equipment is generous across the range,

though. All except the entry-level trim get Peugeot’s minimalist new dashboard, which puts most controls into an an intuitive centrallymounted touchscreen, bundled with standard-fit satellite navigation.

Important functions can be accessed using shortcuts around the map display, and despite minor, occasional, lagging it’s an easy system to use and a unique selling point in this segment. It’s worth noting that the cabin is higher quality than anything it competes with, and I include the Volkswagen Golf in that.

Otherwise, the dashboard is similar to the 208 and 2008, adopting the small low-mounted steering wheel with instruments perched just under the driver’s line of sight.

It suits shorter drivers best, but the steering wheel adds a direct feel to the driving experience, and the anti-clockwise rev counter is an attractive novelty. Boot space has grown by 40 litres, and rear legroom about the same as rivals.

So while Peugeot has hung onto the 308 nameplate, it’s the only surviving part of the old car. Its successor ticks all the right rational and emotional boxes to be a thoroughly desirable family hatchback.

Peugeot 308 fact file Price from £14,495 CO2 from 95g/km MPG from 78.5

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INTERVIEW

The tale of the ‘two 10s’

Dave Laventure interviews two of the area’s rising young rugby stars, who are both in the England U20 squad Local lads Sam Olver and Louis Grimoldby are at the top of their game having recently been selected for the England U20 Six Nations squad. The fly halves not only shared the purple and black of Stamford Rugby Club but also the red and blue of Stamford Junior School.

The lads then went their separate ways with Sam attending Oundle School and Louis attending Stamford School. Both boys made their first XV debut early as under 16s and both boys went on to captain their respective First XVs to successful seasons a er tours to the southern hemisphere.

Now Sam is playing full time with Northampton Saints and Louis with Harlequins. They have both had first team experience and recently went head to head in the A league semi-final at Saints’ Franklins Gardens and now find themselves together again ready to don the white rose in battle against the Italians, Scots, Irish, Welsh and French.

So, 60 seconds with the lads...

Do you have a favourite early rugby memory from junior school?

SO My favourite memory from junior school was probably the last year where we had an unbeaten season under Mr Lyons and Mr Philips.

LG Has to be in year six when we beat Bedford Prep. They always beat us and were always the strongest school we played. We beat them three tries to two - myself scoring two and my brother scoring one.

What do you miss the most having le school boy rugby behind?

SO The thing I miss most about playing school boy rugby is playing with mates every week who you have grown up with.

LG For me, the Friday before a big game. You could feel the buzz among the boys in the common room. We’d have a team run Friday lunch, I’d do a goal kicking session on Friday a ernoon and then just relax before the game.

Favourite memory of school boy rugby?

SO My favourite memory was our tour to Singapore, Hong Kong and Australia because it was my first real exposure of playing abroad and travelling with mates for three weeks.

LG Favourite memory has to be our tour of New Zealand. So many funny stories and memories created, but not for telling!

being able to pick the brains of the players around me and learn from them.

What’s the worst bit about being in professional rugby?

SO The worst thing is probably being away from family for fairly long periods of time.

LG This time of year. Just a er Christmas it’s cold, wet and dark – a long way until the end of the season.

What’s the best bit of your week?

SO The best bit of the week has to be game day as all of the preparation of that week you can put in to the game.

LG Wednesday! Normally our day off, where I switch off and do something different. I like to get on to the golf course or go to the cinema or to the West End.

Fly half Sam Olver has signed with Northampton Saints. He played for Stamford Rugby Club

Who are you learning from the most?

SO At the moment I am learning a lot from the likes of Stephen Myler and Glenn Dickson. Also Alex King is helping me a lot with my game.

LG Nick Evans. We will sit down and go through my games once a week, discussing what’s good and bad.

What’s on your iPod on the bus?

SO I like to listen to fairly relaxing music on the bus and before games so artists like The Lumineers and Mumford and Sons are fairly common on my iPod. LG I have an eclectic taste in music. I’m normally very chilled on the bus so listen to things like Paul Weller, Pavarotti, Norah Jones, Ron Pope, Birdy, etc. Before kick off I have Avicii, Eminem, U2, Storm Queen. Something that gets me a bit more pumped up!

Former Stamford School pupil Louis Grimoldby plays professionally for Harlequins

Give us one top bit of advice for budding young players?

SO The best bit of advice I could give is that loads of people have talent but the ones who make it tend to be the ones who put in the most work. So my advice would be that if you want to achieve anything in rugby you have to be willing to put the work in.

LG Listen to every bit of advice that everyone tells you. Then you decide on the information given to you and if it’s useful.

What was the biggest change from representing your first XV at school?

SO The biggest change playing first team rugby was probably the level of physicality, especially if you play in the first team a year young.

LG Essentially everything’s the same in the sense that our role stays the same, still playing 15 on 15. I would probably say that the consequences of making mistakes are far worse. Teams punish mistakes.

What’s the best bit about being immersed in the professional rugby culture?

SO The best thing about professional rugby is the fact you are being paid to do something you would do for nothing.

LG Getting girls! That is quite obviously a joke! Probably

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Feature /// Gear

Kitbag

The latest kit to keep you active this spring Gemani Olympia Light Details :

The Olympia LED Light System is an extremely powerful all-in-one package suited for all kinds of night adventures, and is handlebar and head belt mountable.

The Olympia boasts a total output of 1700 lumens and forms it into a 19° beam pattern for plenty of throw and width.

Price: £199 From: www.CycleWright.co

Nike Golf VR_S kids golf set The Nike Golf Junior VR_S Age 5-8 Package Set is the perfect starter set for the junior golfer aged 5-8 years old. Designed to promote proper swing fundamentals through ideal length, weight and aerodynamic design, this amazing set will give the best start possible to the game of golf. Next stop: Augusta!

Price: £149 From: Nike Golf stockists

Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey

Optimum Nutrition 100% Gold Standard Whey is one of the very best whey blends on the market today providing you with 24g of protein per serving. It also contains 4g of L-Glutamine and more than 5g of BCAAs. Available in a variety of delicious flavours, Optimun Nutrition has won the Supplement Of The Year and Protein Powder Of The Year award for several years running.

Price: £53.99 From: Stamford Sports Nutrition

Montane Trailblazer Stretch Jacket

Perfect for anything from backpacking to trail running, AQUAPRO Dynamic fabric not only gives a remarkable four-way stretch, but possesses a unique system of liquid and vapour perspiration management.

Price: £170 From: www.ratrace.com

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Newton Gravity III

The neutral performance trainer is for runners wanting a daily training shoe that can also function brilliantly as a faster tempo-pace run or race shoe. More supportive and structured than a lightweight performance trainer line, the Gravity is a great everyday trainer for runners who may like to turn up the speed now and again during tempo or fast-paced runs and intervals.

Price: £135 From: www.newtonrunning.co.uk

Bryton Cardio 60H sports watch

Whether it’s outdoor swimming, cycling, running or a mix of all three the Cardio 60 provides you with real time guidance, reminders and training programs to help you be as fast and fit as possible. The transition between sports can be done with a simple click making this the ideal sports watch for triathlons.

With a long battery life and detailed summary pages, the Cardio 60 is also ideal for pro-longed events and training sessions.

Price: £119.99 From: Rutland Cycling

Coachs Eye app Need to analyse a swing or action? This brilliant app from Coachs Eye lets you record action on your iPad or iPhone, then draw lines all over the replay just like they do on the TV. You can scroll through frame by frame, and even send your analysis to the player by email a erwards.

Price: £2.99 From: Apple App Store

Sweaty Betty Gym Kit

Looking for stylish new gym or yoga kit? British firm Sweaty Betty has just released their spring/summer 2014 range, and it’s pretty cool, as well as technologically advanced. From high stretch, sweat-wicking Sensitive fabrics for gym wear to draping, odour resistant Yogatech fabrics for yoga clothes – performance and style aren’t mutually exclusive.

Price: From £35 From: www.sweatybetty.com

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Feature /// Gear special

BATTING ORDER

We took Derbyshire CCC’s Wes Durston to Vitas Cricket in Peterborough to try out this season’s new blades

GM Purist 606 TEST SCORE Price ................................£105 Value ...................................... 8 Pick up ................................8.5 Performance ....................6.5 6.5 Look ...................................7.5 7.5

ENTRY LEVEL BATS

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ALL THE BATS ARE AVAILABLE FROM VITAS CRICKET CONTACT: Vitas Cricket, Unit 8, Vitas Business Centre, Dodson Way, Fengate, Peterborough, PE1 5XJ. 01733 201144. www.vitascricket.co.uk

A love or hate shape...

Wes was undecided.

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GM Icon 808 TEST SCORE Price ................................£285 Value ...................................... 9 Pick up ................................... 9 Performance ....................8.5 Look ...................................8.5

MID RANGE BATS

Ton Max Power Pro

PREMIUM BATS

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Wes liked the grip on this bat

Kookaburra Kahuna 900

GM Argon Original Limited Edition

TEST SCORE Price ................................£255 Value ...................................9.5 Pick up ................................9.5 Performance .....................10 Look ....................................10

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Wes’s pick of the mid-range range

Hunts County Revolution Turbo Limited Edition

Bellingham & Smith Limited Edition

TEST SCORE Price ................................£195 Value ...................................8.5 Pick up ................................... 8 Performance ....................... 8 Look ...................................... 8

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Wes’s pick of the premium range

GM Six6 606

GM Purist Original

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Member for a day or Member for a year!

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Guest column

Steve Cram, runaway steam irons, windbags and dullards Martin Johnson on the perilous art of interviewing sports stars got a phone call asking for a Winter Olympics piece based on the TV coverage, which is how I came to find myself watching two men with kitchen brooms skating down an ice rink in hot pursuit of what appeared to be a large runaway steam iron. And as if this was not surreal enough, a voice solemnly made an announcement I never thought I’d hear while watching a sports programme: “For those of you who want to watch the men’s half pipe,” it said, “press your red button now.”

Watching this business with the brooms had the effect of making me wander in and out of consciousness, like an accident victim in hospital occasionally making out shadowy figures at the end of the bed. But on the rare occasions I was wide enough awake to listen to the commentator, he appeared to be attempting to persuade me that I was witnessing one of the most amazing sporting events in history.

The commentator in question was Steve Cram, who was being employed to fill me on the dark nuances of the sport of curling. This happens to be BBC policy on any sport you care to mention. Firstly, find someone famous to present it. Secondly, find out if they know anything about it, and when the answer comes back “no”, don’t worry about it. Hence we get landed with ‘reporters’ such as Matthew Pinsent, whose achievements as an Olympic rower made him a natural to be let loose with a microphone on the bobsled track.

Collaring the two sisters of a British girl going for gold, Pinsent quickly made you realise that he must have spent the previous four years studying tapes of Jeremy Paxman on Newsnight. Having established that one of the sisters was older, and the other one younger, Matthew hit them with: “so is she a typical middle sister?”

Which brings me to the point of this article – interviews. The longwinded introduction being, in my defence, the result of too much exposure to watching Jonathan Edwards at the Winter Olympics. Of all the windbags the BBC has employed to introduce sports programmes, Edwards wins the gold every time.

I would like to ask all of you whether your enjoyment of an event has ever been enhanced by listening to a post-match interview? You know the sort I mean. Manchester United have just beaten Norwich 1-0, and a sweaty Wayne Rooney spends two minutes answering banal questions with equally banal answers. Assuming you can understand a word of his almost unintelligible Scouse.

I

I spend quite a few Saturday afternoons covering rugby matches, and when I arrive at, say, the Millennium Stadium to watch Wales playing the bloke dishing out the passes always asks: “do you want a ticket for the press conference?” And I always reply: “I’m sorry, I have a much more agreeable appointment after the game which involves having my toenails removed without anaesthetic.”

The reason is that I know that the coach being questioned, like virtually every other sports person, will be primed to answer all questions in much the same way as a captured pilot used to do in World War Two. Name, rank, serial number, and – as prescribed by the Geneva Convention – nothing else.

This winter’s cricket in Australia was a classic case in point. At the end of every drubbing, the England coach was invited to explain the reasons, and on each occasion he spoke at great length without saying anything at all. Had he been willing to answer the question he would have said: “how on earth do you expect us to beat the Wagga Wagga Boy Scouts XI, never mind Australia, when the dressing room atmosphere, mostly thanks to a preening prima donna from South Africa, requires the wearing of a gas mask.”

But of course we never learned anything from Andy Flower.

What you invariably get is clichés and platitudes. “You don’t become a bad side overnight”….”it could have been a lot different but for a couple of dropped catches”. Cor, hold the back page.

Micky Stewart, who coached England back in the 1980s and ’90s, was brilliant in the art of saying nothing, and I offer you this splendid example of his genius responding to a question about why they had omitted Michael Atherton from a one-day international...

“He’s not on the best of terms with himself sort of batting wise, obviously, and we wanted, on the tempo we were looking for in this particular game, for him not to force things outside his natural game. And therefore he’s not playing in this one.”

This is the verbatim transcript, which I’ve kept for posterity, and it was on something like the dozenth playback that a puzzled hack shouted: “I think I’ve got it! They’ve dropped him for slow scoring!”

Like most top sportsmen, part of the art of staying at the top is by managing to convince themselves that a defeat is not their fault at all, but because the Milky Way has fallen out of alignment with the Great Bear, or their boiled egg wasn’t done the way they like it.

In 1945, Emperor Hirohito told assembled hacks: “the war has not necessarily gone to Japan’s advantage” – and whoever comes up with a quote like that when they do the interviews for the England cricket coaching vacancy is a cert for the job.

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Feature /// Netball

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Netball

SNOWBALLS Jeremy Beswick discovers how netball has taken off in a big way in Rutland Photography: Harry Measures

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FOR THE GREAT BRITISH LAWN...

Good Food, Real Ales, Great Entertainment

St Patrick’s Day

Sat 15th March – the very talented ‘Claddagh’ will be keeping us entertained with some toe-tapping Irish tunes and enjoy the craic on Mon 17th March with the ever popular ‘Pennyless’ – playing from 8pm ... come and enjoy some complimentary Irish stew small plates.

Mother’s Day

Sun 30th March – treat Mums everywhere with a relaxed

Sunday lunch at The Golden Pheasant! Now taking bookings...

...A Great British Mower The Hayter Harrier range is handmade in Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire, in the same factory that’s been producing some of the country’s finest lawnmowers for over 65 years.

Trusted by thousands of homeowners and landscape professionals across the land to produce perfect stripes, day in, day out, whatever the weather. Hayter mowers are a pleasure to use and will serve you well for many years to come.

Your Local Authorised Dealer is:

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Feature /// Netball

T

hree years ago Rutland was a veritable netballing desert, with no organised teams or competitions – apart from those in the local schools. Fast forward to today and you’ll find 11 active sides, a thriving set up catering for all ages and an ambition to reach 30 teams by 2015. Rutland netball is on a roll and the story is an inspiring example of how a few dedicated individuals can make a real difference.

Those with long memories will recall how Active’s first ever edition told the story of the new Rutland County Netball League (RCNL) set up by Tina Sayers. Since then, the league has won two Rutland Active awards – sports project of the year and the community award – with Oakham side Rutland Rockets also winning club of the year in 2012.

Now the baton has been picked up by leading lights such as Melanie O’Berg and Sam Griffin. Melanie is captain of the Rutland Belles and local co-ordinator of Back to Netball – an initiative aimed at getting former players back on the court.

“It’s all about fun, fitness and friends,” she says. “I’ve met so many new people since we started. It’s very sociable. I think we get the balance right and it’s a happy medium between having fun and taking it too seriously, but it’s very fast and skilful and exciting to watch” Together with A-grade umpire Jo Stephenson, Melanie is

running workshops to refresh returning players’ knowledge of the rules and help them ‘re-learn to play’.

Back to Netball (B2N) is a great way to get fit from the age of 16 upwards or even if you’re in your 50s – and as she points out the team element, working with others, is a real motivator compared to going on your own for a run or to the gym.

There are good works too, with RCNL holding its very first annual charity dinner on May 8 at the Falcon Hotel in Uppingham, in support of the Karen Ball fund for palliative care and the Leicester Hospital baby care unit.

Melanie adds: “One of our B2N ladies recently said to me that she just loved the adult-only time it allowed her.

She wasn’t asked about her kids or her husband, she could just relax, have fun, be herself and play netball”.

Above

The Rutland County Netball League is thriving, with teams in many age groups and the ambition to take the sides to national level playing standard

‘IT ABOUT FUN, FITNESS AND FRIENDS. IT’S A HAPPY MEDIUM BETWEEN FUN AND TAKING IT SERIOUSLY’ /// M A R C H 2 0 14 3 5

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Feature /// Netball

Rocket girls THE MOST SUCCESSFUL local netball team is the award-winning Rutland Rockets side, based in Oakham and coached by the Sam Griffin. Sam herself plays netball at a high standard and is currently working towards a level three netball coaching qualification – the highest available.

The Rockets run four age groups from eight year-olds up to seniors and Sam is particularly keen to recruit new youngsters.

They have four teams in the Leicester Adult League and four in the Leicester Junior League – a massive achievement for a club in only in its third competitive season. Rockets are already one of the biggest netball clubs in Leicestershire with 170 members and Sam hopes they’ll soon be one of the biggest in the East Midlands. Rutland netball stalwart Melanie O’Berg’s own daughter plays for them and she recalls: “She didn’t know anyone at first but now she’s made loads of friends.”

Sam adds: “I’ve noticed too how it sets them up for secondary school as, if they come to us, they start with an existing network of chums.”

Apart from making friends, what does netball offer a youngster? Sam again: “It teaches communication skills, discipline and how to work in a team. It’s really good to see them for one hour a week with no iPhones or

PlayStations in a safe environment interacting with other people. Our older girls now mentor the younger ones and act as role models, which they love doing.”

The Rockets are on the look-out for a team sponsor.

“Now we’ve moved up a notch travel is more expensive and the £2 a session the players contribute is stretched.

We’re a real success story but with that success comes added cost,” says Sam. At regional level you can get hundreds of people involved – mums, daughters and their families and Sam is aiming for the Rockets to be playing at national level soon.

Let’s give the last word to local mum Jenny: “My daughter started with Rutland Rockets when she was just 10. Over the last two years she’s grown in confidence, developed a range of skills and made lots of new friends in the process. Under the wing of Sam Griffin she’s also learnt about health, fitness and leadership skills. The club gives so many of the girls opportunities to captain, coach and umpire. It’s by far her favourite sport.”

GIVE IT A GO! If you haven’t played netball since school but would like to give it a go, more information can be found at www. englandnetball.co.uk/ my-game/back-to-netball or contact Melanie at b2nrutland@outlook.com.

Sessions are held every Tuesday from 7-8pm in Uppingham with players coming from all over the county and beyond. A perfect solution for that delayed New Year’s resolution!

CAN YOU HELP? The Rockets are looking for a sponsor. Contact Sam at sam853@ hotmail.com, or visit www.rutlandrocketsnetballclub.com

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Feature /// Mum fitness

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HOW TO BE A YUMMY MUMMY Trying to get back into shape after a baby? Fit2Fab’s Louise Allen explains how to do it during this busy part of your life

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Feature /// Mum fitness

T

ime, energy and motivation are probably the three things most mums struggle to find when getting back into fitness. Fitting everything in around your children, work and jobs around the house can make fitness difficult to be part of your life.

The important thing to remember is don’t push yourself too much when starting back.

Sometimes short bursts of exercise in between all aspects of your life can be better and more beneficial to you than trying to find an hour to go out for a run.

TARGETING THAT TUMMY

It’s important to re-train your internal muscles after having children so working on your pelvic floor and core muscles are an absolute must!

Doing hundreds of crunches a day will not give you a flat stomach. The stronger your core, the better the results and definition you will be able to achieve and therefore flatter stomach.

ACTIVATE YOUR PELVIC FLOOR

Firstly you need to activate your pelvic floor.

Squeezing from there, you need to activate the transverse adominus. To do this, imagine you’re putting on a pair of skinny or tight jeans – feel your tummy tighten, holding that tension yet making sure you can still breathe. You need to squeeze the muscles that stop you from going to the toilet.

SOME EXERCISES TO START OFF

Bridge Lying on your back, feet on floor. Roll your pelvis towards you, activate your core and pelvic floor

muscles, squeeze your glutes (bum) and gently roll up through your spine, pressing your hips up.

Keep the tummy muscles activated throughout.

Hold for 10-20 seconds, breathe and release.

Straight leg scissor Lying on your back. Activate your core and pelvic floor muscles, keep your lower back glued to the floor. Take legs into air; gently lower one leg down a few inches towards to the floor. If you back arches, don’t take your leg as low and really think of lifting up from that pelvic floor. Do 10-20 repetitions.

Superman Lying on your tummy. Lifting both legs and arms off floor (only a few inches), keep head inline with your spine, careful not to hyper-extend or lift the head too high. Pull your belly button towards your spine and keep hips to the floor. Hold for a few seconds and release.

Repeat 10 times.

Plank Activate your core, maintain a straight spine throughout. Careful not to dip the hips or arch the back. Hold for 10 seconds, release and repeat 5 times. Its important to keep breathing throughout.

Beginners can do a half plank, which involves resting on the knees and bringing hips forward.

Posture Posture is particularly important to new mums as during pregnancy; the spine tends to take a ‘Lordosis’ shape as the pelvis changes alignment to support the body so it is important to concentrate on posture following birth to actively re-train the alignment of the spine, gently and

gradually. Take five minutes a few times a day to check your posture: ● Standing tall, activate your core muscles, tuck your pelvis under, relax your shoulders ● Lifting from hips, imagine a string attached to your head lifting you up.

Pilates is particularly fantastic for posture, flexibility and lengthening those muscles.

ENERGY & CARDIO

Light burst of cardio exercise, will increase your energy and allow you to fit in that small amount of exercise each day.

Try a few of these exercises for 30 seconds each day and repeat 3-5 times each.

Remember posture, core and pelvic floor throughout!

Jumping Jacks Mini sprints on a spot Elbow to knee (crossing over) or high knees Side steps / Jumps side to side.

WALKING/JOGGING

Adding on to the above, I do think it’s important for new mums to be outdoors to get some fresh air, vitamin D and away from the home.

This will help to boost energy levels, create calm wellbeing and release any negativity & tension in both the mind and body.

So if your child is in the early stages, take the buggy out for a walk. Getting out with the buggy a few times a week (if not everyday) will certainly make a difference.

You can progress this exercise by adding in some fast walking and even jogging! Why not even add in some squats to your walk? // Visit Fit2Fab.co.uk for more information

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Read online for free every month at www.theactivemag.com

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Feature /// Mum fitness

OR YOU COULD GET ON YOUR BIKE… Mums and tots rides are due to start in March, with the first ride on Friday, March 7, at Rutland Cycling, Whitwell. Each ride leaves Rutland Water or Fineshade Wood every Friday morning, starting at 10am. Dads and other carers are welcome too! Rides are at a leisurely pace, usually around five miles, and are suitable for all abilities.

Free to join with your own bike – or take advantage of special reduced hire rates for Breeze rides: Hire a bike, child seat (age 12mths to 4 yrs) and helmets for £5.

Hire a bike, 2-child trailer (age 18mths to 4 yrs) or trail-a-bike (age 4-6yrs) and helmets for £10.

For more details and to register on a ride, email rides@rutlandcycling.com or call 01572 737 626.

WHAT TO EAT

Obviously you’re going to need plenty of nutrition, for both you and your baby. So how do you balance healthy eating and having enough food.

When you eat foods rich with nutrients, you’ll notice that your calories go a long way.

You’ll feel fuller longer, and will have the get-up-and-go mentality you need for those 3am. feeding calls too try the following: Fruits and vegetables Whole grains ● Lean protein, like fish, beef, and soy foods ● Dairy – skimmed or low-fat milk ● ●

Leafy greens Iron. You can find this in things like fortified cereals, prune juice, and lean meats. ● Vitamin C, which can help with wound healing for mothers who delivered via C-section. Find this in oranges, tomatoes and natural fruit juices. ● ●

If you’re in the mood for a snack, McManus says to think carefully before you choose. Steer clear from snack packs since they are stocked with tons of artificial sweeteners. Instead, either have a tiny portion of what you actually want or pick from one of the following: Whole-grain crackers with hummus Nuts (stash some in your purse in case you get a craving on the go) ● A cup of whole-grain cereal with low-fat milk. ● A hardboiled egg with some carrots ● Low-fat cheese with a piece of fruit ● Peanut butter on an apple ● Plain Greek yogurt - add in a cup of berries to avoid added sugar from the flavoured kind. ● ●

FIVE GREAT FOODS FOR HEALTHY NEW MUMS

1} High-fibre cereal A bowl at breakfast will satisfy hunger and help prevent constipation, a common problem for new mums, since breastfeeding hormones can slow down intestines, and top with a dollop of low-fat yogurt. Besides being calcium-rich, the yogurt contains probiotics, “good” bacteria that can aid in digestion.

Eat: Every day

2} Eggs To help shed post-baby weight, eat eggs for breakfast. Doing so could help you eat fewer calories over the rest of the day, a recent study suggests. A single egg has around 5 or 6 grams of protein, which means you’ll feel full and you won’t have an attack of the munchies an hour later.

Eat: Every day 3} Steak Beef is packed with iron and zinc, two important minerals for regaining your energy and producing breast milk. Although it’s higher in fat and calories than white meat, it packs twice the amount of zinc and more iron.

Eat: Three times a week 4. Wild salmon It contains omega-3 fatty acids, which are good for your heart and can aid in your baby’s brain and eyesight development if you’re breastfeeding.

Eat: Once or twice a week 5} Spinach This most-nutritious leafy green contains two essentials new mums need: Folic acid, which helps produce new blood cells, especially important for women who experienced lots of blood loss during delivery, and manganese, which aids in the development of bone, cartilage, and collagen – key for c-section recovery.

Eat: Whenever you like

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Feature /// Fly tying

T I E YO U R F L I E S

Chris Meadows spends an evening learning the delicate art of creating imitators and attractors Photography: Chris Meadows

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Right

Cameron Neil creating his two-tone blob at the recent Rutland Water Fly Fishers Fly Tying evening held at Empingham Cricket Club

B

oobies. Now I’ve got your attention. And I’m referring to a type of fly used in fly fishing, also referred to as a ‘Dolly Parton’. Not most likely what you were thinking about, but that’s most likely how they got their name owing to their shape.

Having had the pleasure of going fly fishing last year on Rutland Water courtesy of Rutland Water Fly Fishers and Anglian Water, it was time to delve a little deeper into what the local fishermen get up to while the reservoir is off limits out of season. Hence how my hands are full of boobies.

To someone that has only dipped a toe into the water when it comes to fly fishing, the world of fly tying is pretty confusing and with names such as Compara-duns, Elk-hair Caddis, Hare’s Ear, Wooly Worm and Zug Bug, it’s no wonder.

But when you break it down it’s not so complicated. These names are variations of only two types of fly. Imitators and attractors. It’s that simple – or is it? Imitators, as the name suggests, imitate a living creature found in nature, whereas attractors don’t but attract a response

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Feature /// Fly tying

from a fish. These two types then break down into further types: dry, wet, nymph, streamer and terrestrial and that’s when all the rather obscure names start to come into play.

Also, everyone seems to have their own way of creating a fly, and obscure naming choices to go along with it, some of them with all the eccentricity of a Hollywood celebrity naming their child.

Whether it be through tried and tested flies that have worked well, or a barren afternoon on the water, there are thousands of options.

One type might work one day but not the next – it all depends on what the fish are feeding on. That’s why it’s great to fish as part of a club, because they know what the fish are feeding on, what is best to try, and where. You get the combined expertise from other members, but they might not give you all their secrets!

Rutland Water Fly Fishers (RWFF) put on regular events and their fly tying evening at Empingham Cricket Club was well attended, especially considering that a third of the club’s membership lives more than 50 miles away.

I sat down and watched RWFF’s Cameron Neil while he put together a ‘two-tone blob’, which proved popular with the attendees (and hopefully the fish). Having moved from his native Scotland to Rutland for the fishing, I asked him why he makes his own flies rather than popping down to the local tackle shop to stock up.

“By tying your own you can tie what you want, and there’s nothing like the satisfaction of catching a fish on a fly you’ve made,” he reckons. But he also pointed out that it’s just as important to know how to fish with the flies you’ve made. Cameron wasn’t the only expert drafted in for the evening. There were a plethora of flies being created across the room by various well respected club members. I must admit it’s a little strange to see grown men with fully stocked sewing kits, but there was a great buzz in the room.

And the club seems to be thriving, albeit with a fairly senior membership, but this is being addressed with the organisation now being Clubmark accredited.

Club chairman Chris Evans is one of the two level 2 coaches looking to draft in younger blood. And it seems to be working, with the annual Rutland Youth Fly Fishing Day held in July attracting more youngsters each year.

This month will see the 120 strong membership perform their annual litter pick along the shores of the reservoir. It is also hosting an open day on March 22 from 2 to 4pm with tuition and advice available. For more details on the event and the club see the website at www.rwff.org.uk

Above

Membership of Rutland Water Fly Fishers is thriving, although the club is aiming to attract new, younger members. Their work produces intricate ties which are used to (hopefully) attract fish

Parachutes, posts, klinkhammers and horizontal hackles Want a flavour of fly tying? ‘Clever’ Trevor Ashby shows off his Eyebrook specials

THE ANNUAL FLY TYING evening is always popular to see what’s new and to get ideas for flies to tie for the new season.

‘Clever’ Trevor Ashby is a well-known and gi ed fly tyer, who worked at the fishing lodge years ago and is a regular on Rutland, and more o en these days, on Eyebrook. He’s quite a celebrity in the fly tying world, famous for appearing on many fishing TV programmes. His speciality is using new and unusual

materials and methods to make fly tying simple and effective, usually producing something unique, novel and innovative at these events.

A er all, you have to keep one step ahead of the fish…

On this occasion, Trevor focused on his unique dry flies, including his ‘Eyebrook special’. Now, for the layman, this is where things get a bit confusing. Trevor demonstrated his parachute-style tying, using the same hackle stalk as the parachute ‘post’ and the wing with a hot orange thorax.

‘It’s deadly,” says Trevor.

Confusing to any mortal, I think. Parachute dry flies feature a hackle (the feathery bit), tied horizontally around a ‘post’ on top of the body creating a floating fly with a very realistic insect wing and leg profile from underwater and

a submerged body. The post can also be used as a sight indicator, ideal on rivers so that you can see the fly easier in turbulent flows.

Trevor tied these on a ‘klinkhammer’ curved hook (which is usually used to imitate an emerging caddis fly). His parachute fly works well on Eyebrook with a hot orange dubbed thorax, lying just sub-surface, suspended by the horizontal hackle.

Trevor recounted many funny stories during the evening about his years of fly tying including one about an Old Etonian who requested some parachute flies to resemble a pattern, which he gave to Trevor to copy.

That fly got lost but Trevor tied him his own versions plus an extra one to make up for the lost sample.

“They’re perfect!” said the old Etonian, “I can’t even tell which is the original!”

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Feature /// Sportsman’s Dinner

The Mad Turk, Stamford With JT and Dean on strict diets, Will and Wendy try out a popular Stamford restaurant Will Every now and again a new restaurant opens which gets it right from the start, and that’s exactly what chef and owner Kaz and his team have achieved at The Mad Turk. It’s always busy, day and night. I suppose it’s in that niche of not Indian, Chinese or Thai and not too formal or traditional either.

pretty busy in here for a Tuesday night so I’m not surprised to hear from Attila that they quite often have to turn people away during the week.

And there’s a six-week waiting list at the weekends, even with a two-shift system in place in the evenings.

Wendy It’s definitely not hard to see why it’s been so successful. As soon as you walk in the tasteful décor, music and ambience strikes you.

And the waiters are brillant. Nick with his dry sense of humour and Attila with that beaming grin really make you feel welcome.

Will It is very relaxing, isn’t it? And as a real ale drinker I don’t often wax lyrical about a lager but this Turkish falling down juice, Efes, is very quenchable indeed.

Wendy I can’t say I have tried too many Turkish red wines before, but on a winter’s evening after a decent stroll it seems like a good option, and this big shiraz really is surprisingly smooth. And these marinated olives are sensational. I’m not surprised the recipe is a closely guarded secret at the restaurant, but I would like to be able to do this at home.

Will It’s a bit tricky to know where to start with this menu because the hot and cold mezze starters all sound great. Narrowing them down is a bit of a challenge so perhaps regular visits are in order. But Attila’s words have swayed me and kadin budu it is. Not that I was swayed by the English name at all: lady’s thighs…

Wendy I should think not Will! And I always find it hard to resist falafel on any menu so I’m glad I ordered this sebseli kofte. It’s nice fresh falafel and houmous – in fact I could have done with more houmous.

Will Now, now, don’t be greedy. Past experience tells me the main courses will be more than sufficient. But never mind that, these lady’s thighs are really quite exquisite. According to the menu they are made from ground lamb, onion, potato and light herbs and spices and the end result is mouth-watering.

Wendy Hmmm, yes your starter is quite something isn’t it. Delicious. And both plates were beautifully presented, too. Ah, the shiraz is really kicking in now!

Will OK, after those ample starters I’m quite glad of a little wait for the main course. It’s

Wendy I’m not surprised either. Everything is just right. There are lots of little decorative touches which make all the difference. But there is nothing little about these main courses, they look fabulous! This adana koftesi, a speciality from southern Turkey, combines fiery chillies and spices with chargrilled minced lamb and it’s all served with bulgur wheat. You can really taste the quality in the lamb, so it’s no surprise to see it comes from Grasmere Farm.

Will My iskender kebab is just as tasty and it really is an ample portion. I love Grasmere butchers and it’s great to see local businesses working together. I’m not surprised The Mad Turk is planning to expand upstairs and develop the garden this year. This restaurant is just right for Stamford.

Wendy It certainly is. It’s a lovely ambience and I could just sit here all night. A real Turkish delight, speaking of which, pass that dish over here – yum.

The Mad Turk

8-9 St Paul’s Street, Stamford www.themadturk.co.uk, 01780 238001

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Feature /// Great walks

A marvellous mixed bag This four-miler from Greetham takes in a golf course, a country estate and some wide ranging views, as Will Hetherington discovers //

Photography: Will Hetherington

THE ROUTE

The car park at The Wheatsheaf pub in Greetham is the perfect place to start and finish this walk (if you are planning on popping in later). With a spring-fed brook babbling along the side, a series of picnic tables and plenty of wildfowl wandering around this is one of the nicer pub car parks you are likely to find.

Walk round the front of the pub and double back up Wheatsheaf Lane. Very shortly you will come to a footpath junction, where you can go either way, as this is a circular route, but I chose the left turn. This takes you along the path with the stream gurgling away to the left, and even after the monsoons of January and early February

this was surprisingly dry under foot. I’m sure my agronomist friend would have a complicated explanation for this, but clearly it’s good draining soil.

After half a mile the path cuts across a footbridge and heads up the hill and along the edge of woodland, beyond which it enters the Greetham Valley golf course. Now I don’t mind a round of golf, but on the glorious day I did this walk I was rather pleased I wasn’t interrupting my walk to play a series of frustratingly duffed chip shots and missed putts. Instead I got to watch a few others suffer the same fate as I cheerily bid them good morning and strolled on.

The Germans have a word for it… schadenfreude.

Anyway, the path takes a few well sign-posted turns through the golf course, past the clubhouse and hotel and then into the car park beyond.

Rather than feeling like interlopers though, walkers are welcomed by signs offering hot and cold refreshments. If you haven’t been to Greetham Valley the scale of it and the range of activities, from archery and golf to fishing and off-road driving, might surprise you.

Once you have cleared the car park the path passes the timber framed self-catering chalets of Rutland Lodges on the left and meanders along through the eastern edge of the golf course. Keep to the signposts and you will shortly climb up some steep steps onto an embankment. At this

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TOP STAT

y base The nearby arm cks was Kendrew Barra better known as until RAF Cottesmore . it closed in 2012

junction I turned right, but for a longer walk you can carry on past Fort Henry to the west. From the junction on the embankment it’s pretty much a straight one-mile stretch on a decent surface to the turn back towards Greetham.

This exposed section cuts through part of the Exton estate and has far reaching views. Once you have walked the mile the path is clearly signposted to the right by a large oak tree. From here it’s a pretty straight run back into Greetham and a well-earned pint and a bite to eat at the Wheatsheaf.

One of the many pleasures of walking at this time of year is seeing brown hares out in the arable fields before the crops grow too tall, and sure enough there are plenty of these mysterious animals around here.

Just look out for what looks like large clumps of soil out on their own in the middle of the fields.

Binoculars will certainly help.

Difficulty rating (out of five)

Le and below

This walk takes in a country estate, a golf course as well as some beautiful countryside. A welcome pint and food awaits at The Wheatsheaf in Greetham

ESSENTIAL INFORMATION Where to park: The Wheatsheaf in Greetham, if you are planning on popping in at the end of your walk.

Distance and time: Three and a quarter miles/an hour and a quarter.

Highlights: The clear babbling brook which runs along the first part of the walk. The joy of watching other people play poor golf shots. The

exhilarating exposed mile long stretch from Fort Henry towards Exton. A cracking pub.

Lowlights: You might think walking through the car park at the golf course spoils the rustic charm but it’s only brief and provides a good contrast to the rest of the walk.

Refreshments: The Wheatsheaf in Greetham is extremely popular and the golf

course welcomes walkers with hot and cold refreshments.

Otherwise, The Sun Inn in Cottesmore is a good option.

The pooch perspective This is a dog friendly walk, with plenty of water and hardly any livestock. Although obviously you need to keep them under control near the golf course.

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Feature /// Dog training

Being a resourceful dog owner Bobs Broadbent on how to use resources so that you are training your dog, and not the other way round PROVIDING GOOD LEADERSHIP for your dog is the key to becoming an effective owner and having control of a dog’s resources and utilising them fairly and appropriately, is an effective way to achieve this status, in the eyes of your dog.

Indeed, resource control often forms the basis of a behaviour modification plan to change. Such treatment programmes are known as ‘learn to earn’ or ‘say please first’. They are designed to remind a dog that looking to people for direction is worthwhile.

A resource is anything a dog needs or wants. It’s something that is valued by a dog and the valuation will vary from dog to dog.

If you are thinking along the lines of a resource being a simple food

reward, then you need to think again. Although food is certainly a resource, it’s not limited to treats. In fact it includes all and any food a dog is given, has access to or needs. Therefore a dog’s daily food can be dispensed not from a food bowl but from the hand, in return for a positive response, from a friendly wag of the tail or simple sit, to a repertoire of actions. Imagine all of that opportunity for a dog to earn food and learn at the same time.

There is a word of caution though and that’s to highlight this approach is in no way designed to be punitive; quite the opposite, and done well it offers a great route to reinvigorating and creating a fantastic relationship with your dog.

Another resource is human attention. I’m sure every dog lover will be able to think of a dog that cutely rests its head upon their knee or even leans against them and, almost by reflex response, is given the stroke on the head that is being requested.

Human attention towards dogs comes in three forms: by sight, touch and speech. Most dogs look for attention from us, and therefore, how we give this resource can have a dramatic impact on our communication with our

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dogs, as it provides reinforcement for appropriate and inappropriate behaviour.

For example, if you have a demanding adolescent dog persistent in acquiring your attention, you might want to think about how your response is contributing to the problem. If you are speaking or looking at your dog, this could be a resource reward that incentivises the dog’s action. By removing your attention your dog will eventually learn that there is no reward to gain. And yes, old habits do die hard and are likely to escalate in response to your attention being withdrawn, until a dog learns that you are not to be persuaded back to your old habits.

Judge for yourself how often your dog instigates getting your attention and how you respond, and then decide, who’s training whom?

This is not to say that you should give your dog less attention. In fact, it’s about using the attention you give your dog to maximise your relationship.

A dog owner that is aware of how to use these resources will nurture a very attentive dog but controlling what your dog has access to should be conducted with compassion, if you are to be a truly trusted leader. n If you have any concerns about your dog’s behaviour, seek professional advice prior to introducing any changes to routine, either from a pet behaviourist: www.apbc.co.uk or trainer: www.apdt.co.uk Contact: Bobs Broadbent, 01664 454 792, bobs@dogknows.co.uk

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A six week training & socialisation course tailored specially for vaccinated puppies up to 20 weeks of age.

Our classes are fun and friendly and you will learn how to use modern, force-free and kind training techniques.

Classes are held at Oakham Veterinary Hospital on Wednesday evenings.

To register your puppy, please contact Bobs Broadbent by e-mail: bobs@dogknows.co.uk or phone: 01664 454 792

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23/02/2014 12:17

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Feature /// Great rides

To Bulwick and back Jon Sheehan of Tri Coach 3 continues to offer routes and training advice for cyclists, runners and swimmers. This month it’s a 34-mile loop from Stamford to Bulwick This route is a rideout from Stamford through Ketton, King’s Cliffe then Bulwick and back, with a cheeky little out and back section for a quick blast.

Starting at the Jolly Brewer in Stamford, turn right and head out on the A1621 Tinwell Road, and follow this into Ketton.

Then take a left turn at Church Road then into Station Road and take a right at the T-junction on to Ketton road and follow up to the A43 signed for Collyweston.

Take a right and first left on to The Drove and follow through until you join the A47 turn left for approximately one mile and take the next right, Stamford Road, signed for King’s Cliffe.

Now follow this road into the village and at the T-junction take a right into West Street at the top turn left and take the road into Bulwick.

When you reach the next T-junction turn left. This is the cheeky out and back section down to the A43, and a chance to stretch your legs!

Turn back and head back to Bulwick and take the right turn 100m before you reach the Bulwick signed for Southwick, when you reach Southwick follow the signs for Woodnewton, bear left and follow signs for Apethorpe (nice pub here called the King’s Head with good food) and back into King’s Cliffe.

Once you have got into King’s Ciffe retrace your route back to the Jolly Brewer. Time for a beer?

STATS Start/Finish The Jolly Brewer, Stamford Distance 33.9 miles Time 12mph = 2.49:30 15mph = 2.15:36 18mph = 1.53:00 Elevation 1,712 Difficulty 7.5/10

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21/02/2014 14:57

Feature /// School sports

Stamford denied by last minute try A LAST MINUTE try saw Stamford School First XV go out of the final 16 of the NatWest National Cup in a 22-22 draw with Warwick School. Warwick went through on the “away” team rule.

The home side played brilliantly in terrible conditions and scored four tries, taking the lead with a minute remaining, but the visitors piled over in the corner as time disappeared.

Director of rugby David Laventure said: “They played out of their skins with a large number of players missing. They showed great quality across the park for a young side and will be better for this, I am sure.”

The Stamford School First XV only lost one game in the regular season and sailed through each stage of the NatWest Cup before facing Warwick.

They showed promise as they defeated prestigious rugby teams Bedford Modern and Uppingham School and cruised past local rivals Bourne Grammar in 40 minutes of their third round encounter. The Stamford team were ranked tenth in the Daily Mail ranking of the country’s top 70 rugby playing schools.

Three members of the First XV squad have finished the season on a high with representative selections. Winger Tom Roper has been rewarded for his efforts with a call up for the Holland U18 side for their upcoming test match with Germany this weekend in Amsterdam.

Team-mates Charlie Dunbar and George Cox have also been selected to represent the Midlands U18 divisional side who will take on the North at Loughborough University.

County call-up for Zac CASTERTON BUSINESS & Enterprise College student Zac Treweek has been selected for the Leicestershire U14s cricket team.

Zac was nominated by Personal Health and Fitness Subject Leader at the College, Dave Ramshaw, and his coach at Ketton Cricket Club to attend trials at Grace Road this winter and now has training on Monday and Thursday evenings every week. He is a talented sportsman and represents the college at football, rugby, tennis, basketball and cricket.

Get active with Easter courses UPPINGHAM SUMMER SCHOOL is offering places on its Easter courses, running from March 31 to April 17.

Highlights include cricket and tennis coaching led by former England, Kent and Leicestershire cricket professional Trevor Ward, and by LTA tennis coach James Muir. Open to children aged between 7 and 14 they are aimed at all skill levels from beginner to county standard. Days are action packed, and everyone can improve their technical skills.

Easter baking for kids and arts & crafts often sell out quickly, while there are adult courses too.

For details go to www.uppingham summerschool. co.uk or 01572 820800.

SUMMER CAMPS CHURCHILL SUMMER CAMPS have released details of this year’s programme with an extended number of weeks in the Stamford area.

Operating in the Stamford and Peterborough area for more than 20 years and for the past two years in Oakham during the school holidays, children from the age of four to 14 are catered for.

Churchill offers a range of over 30 activities including quad biking, swimming, archery, arts and cra s, bouncy castle, orienteering, cooking to name a few.

The day camps are a great opportunity for children to make new friends and to try out new activities in a safe environment, surrounded by supportive and experienced staff and is Ofsted registered. It also accepts payment by childcare vouchers.

Telephone 01780 753461 or email info@ churchillsummercamps.co.uk for details.

A BIG NIGHT OUT OAKHAM SCHOOL is hosting a ‘Big Night Out’ on March 1 with two sporting heroes: Rugby World Cup winning captain Martin Johnson and Olympic badminton silver medallist, Gail Emms.

Both will be speaking on the night, along with a variety of other entertainment including a charity auction.

The event is to raise money for Oakham’s upcoming sports tour (when 125 pupils will be travelling to South Africa), and a range of different charities both in South Africa and the UK.

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GB handball captain coaches at Casterton CASTERTON BUSINESS & Enterprise College welcomed Team GB handball captain, Bobby White, who visited as part of the ‘Inspiring Athletes Programme’.

Bobby has played handball professionally across Europe and captained Team GB during the 2012 Olympics.

The students took part in a coaching session and several then went on to compete in a Varsity Handball competition against other local schools.

Bobby was very impressed with the students technical ability and he was impressed with the girls - Hannah Barber and Kayna Penrose-Toms were both recognised for their effort and ability. Hannah said: “Bobby told us that he felt the London Olympic spirit was still alive through our inspired generation. He was a true Olympian!”

Tom picked for national squad HOCKEY PLAYER Thomas MacDonald has been selected for the Swifts Under 18s tour of Belgium and Holland.

The Swifts tour selects the best age group hockey players from around England to tour Europe for a week during the season.

A First XI hockey midfielder from Stamford School, his coach Jon Peckett said of Tom: “This is a fabulous achievement; his talent has clearly shone through and we wish him every success on this tour.”

The Swifts U18s tour party will play against some formidable age-group opposition, in the form of world-class clubs such as Bloemendaal and Oranje Zwart.

Tigers stars put teams through their paces

Judo medal for Sofia

FORMER ALL BLACK Scott Hamilton and New Zealandborn England international Thomas Waldrom visited Oakham School to put the Senior Sevens Squad through their paces.

During the session, the Tigers pair focussed on moving the ball into space and width on attack. Both internationals were very impressed with the boys’ work ethic despite the poor weather conditions.

Oakham School’s Rugby Sevens Coach and double European cup winning Leicester Tigers centre, Glenn Gelderbloom, said: “The boys really benefited from their expertise and their valuable words of advice.

“They are now looking forward to putting some of their new skills into action.”

STAMFORD High School student Sofia Palmer has won a silver medal in the Over 12s HMC Independent Schools & IAPS Judo tournament.

She was competing against a 17-year old in the gold medal fight in the final.

Following a welldeserved bronze medal in Wallsall in a national event as well, she is now looking forward to the National British Schools Championship in Sheffield in March and a further ranking event in April.

Heidi Myles, head of PE at Stamford High School, said: “We are extremely proud of Sofia’s continued successes in judo.

“We wish her the very best of luck for her competitions in the coming months.”

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Feature /// School sports

Oakham are county champions OAKHAM SCHOOL’S hockey players have been crowned county champions for the sixth consecutive year.

The first round of this national tournament took place at Oakham School, with teams from Oakham, Uppingham, Soar Valley, Ratcliffe College and Loughborough Grammar School taking part.

“To be crowned county hockey champions six years in a row is a testament to the level of hockey being taught at Oakham,” said director of hockey Ashley Denman.

“To be consistently winning at county, regional and national level is due to both the standard of coaching on offer and the level of effort our players are putting into their training.

“It was particularly good to see them putting into action some of the things they had learnt from our pre-season training.”

Girls selected for Midlands TALENTED FOOTBALLERS from Oakham School are celebrating after being selected to represent the Midlands.

After taking part in both training and trials, the three girls have been chosen as Regional Representatives for the Midlands International Schools Football Association (ISFA).

Karen Ribeiro (aged 16), Alex Smith and Yasmin Anwar (both 17) are all thrilled to be given the opportunity to demonstrate their skills on the football field at this level.

Midfielder Alex commented, “The trials this year were very different to last year, with many girls of the same standard; this made standing out a little harder.”

Yasmin is no stranger to playing competitive football, having already won an international cap for representing England in the ISFA Girls National U18 Representatives Squad, where she played against Australian Schools.

James gets England judo call CASTERTON BUSINESS & Enterprise College student, James Reseigh, has been selected for the 2014 England Pre Cadet (U15) judo squad.

James was chosen as he medalled in all three major national ranking competitions – The British Schools Championships, The 10-12 years Championship and The British Championship pre-cadet.

As a member of the squad, James will be attending training most Wednesdays in Walsall and he will also attend training camps at weekends. Looking to the year ahead, James said: “Being in the England squad gives you the opportunity to travel the world, fighting in different countries.”

Along with many competitions across the UK, James is hoping to take part in the Venray International Judo Tournament in Holland this summer and also has the opportunity of competing in the Flanders Cup in Lommel, Belgium.

James is also a member of the Vale Judo Club and trains with coach, Mike Newton, who said: “James has had a terrific year of competition and thoroughly deserves his place on the England Pre Cadet Squad.”

NETBALL FINALISTS UPPINGHAM School’s girls’ under 14A netball team have qualified for the National Schools’ Netball Finals a er achieving second place in the East Midlands tournament.

It is the first time an Uppingham netball team has reached the National Finals and the girls finished a close second with a score of 6 - 8 against Loughborough in the final. This is an excellent achievement for the U14s, especially as they have only been training together since the beginning of January, when many of their opponents have trained together for up to two years.

The National Schools’ Netball Finals will take place in Merseyside this month.

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Roundup The scores, star performers and stats from a month in Stamford and Rutland sport

Football

Weather takes its toll on local fixture lists

BY DEAN CORNISH

Y

ou may have noticed that the weather has recently been more conducive to Olympic swimming than football, meaning a frustrating period for our local football sides. Our local clubs don’t quite have the benefit of undersoil heating and expert drainage systems, meaning most local footballers have been sat in local hostelries watching Sky Sports on a Saturday afternoon, rather than out plying their wits on the field.

Since last month’s update, the area’s premier local football team, Stamford AFC, have only played two league games and two cup games, and they’ve both won and lost one game in each format.

At least they’re consistent. The league is the most important for the Daniels as they strive to beat the drop from the Evo-Stik Northern Premier Division after last season’s promotion, and a win and a loss is certainly a reasonable return from their Westside active advert 4/12/13 14:26 Page 1 recent games.

The game they lost was away at Chorley who are pushing for the league title, so

certainly no disgrace there. In front of an 800-plus crowd, the Daniels lost 3-0 but they competed well for much of the game, and had an opening goal disallowed, which could have been crucial had it stood.

Their next league game was at home against play-off hopefuls, Ashton United, and it turned out to be a cracker for David Staff’s side.

Ryan Robbins gave the Daniels the lead from the penalty spot, a lead which the Daniels held until the 81st minute when the visitors equalised to seemingly break Daniels’ fans hearts.

However, David Staff’s side are made of stern stuff and they kept pressing and were rewarded with the three points when Nabil Shariff pounced with a last minute winner to send the bumper home crowd wild.

With many of their relegation rivals losing it was a great afternoon’s work for Stamford, who now have a five-point cushion from the bottom four sides.

With Droylsden, Stafford and Stocksbridge as good as down, it’s looking like one from four to join them in

relegation. Witton, Frickley, Barwell and Stamford are the ones fighting it out to stay in the league, and with recent results going the way of the Daniels, I’m still predicting they’ll be in that Premier League once again next year.

In terms of the cups, it was the Doodson Cup that Stamford were knocked out of with defeat to Carlton, which matters not in the grand scheme of things.

The Daniels did progress though to the final of the Lincs Shield after a semi-final smash and grab away at Grantham Town.

The Daniels now face Brigg Town in the final at Sincil Bank (Lincoln City) in April.

There should be a healthy following for the Daniels, with recent finals of this competition being a favourite for many Stamford fans.

In the United Counties First Division, Blackstones have only managed two league games in February, and they’ve lost them both, although in fairness both games were against high flying rivals.

Gary Peace’s men lost 2-1 away at fifth-placed Northampton Chenecks, before

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then losing 2-0 at home the following week against a strong Oadby Town side who are clear favourites to win the title.

Stones are currently fifth from bottom, with their pre-Christmas form responsible for ensuring they won’t go down again this year.

In the Peterborough League Premier Division meanwhile, Uppingham Town remain in touch with the leaders, but only if they manage to win all their games in hand.

They’re currently 21 points from leaders Netherton, but with six games in hand, anything is possible.

In reality, they’re unlikely to be able to make up so many points, but still have a good chance of finishing in an elevated position. This month they’ve had narrow

ALAMY

Above Waterlogged pitches have been a familiar sight in the past month

wins over Stilton United away from home, and a similar victory at home against Coates Athletic. With both games finishing 1-0, there’s a familiar song that could be sung at Uppingham Town games at the moment. Let’s hope they keep on a good run, and finish the season well.

Oakham United, meanwhile, have had a mixed February, playing only two games – winning one and losing the other. They lost 3-0 to title-chasing Netherton, but did get a good win over Crowland Town on an artificial surface.

Oakham look set to finish this season in mid-table, which is a reasonable return with this season being one for rebuilding after the pre-season turmoil.

In the first division, Ketton are still the

highest placed of our local sides. They’ve been unlucky again though this month with the weather. They’ve only managed one league game this year – a 1-1 draw away at Stanground.

Ketton are in seventh place but have six games in hand on the league leaders. Other teams above them though also have games in hand so a tilt at the title isn’t feasible, but a top-six finish is well within their sights.

Ryhall United are eighth in the league but haven’t had a game in February. Their last outing was in late January, losing 3-2 at home to Peterborough Sports.

Stamford Bels have had one league game, losing away at Long Sutton. Martin Conneely’s men are third from bottom of the league, with 17 points.

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Rugby

Oakham and Stamford rediscover early season form

BY JEREMY BESWICK

A

fter their mid-winter blip Oakham continued to return to their strong early-season form with two wins and a draw. First up were the green and gold of Melbourne on a day when it was clear that tricky conditions would play a part. It was Melbourne’s misfortune to face the gale in the first half and an early clearance kick was swept almost backwards to allow Oaks’ Matt Dalton in for the opening try.

Oakham dominated both possession and territory for the remainder of that half and will have been relieved that Will Burrows went over late on, as 7-0 wouldn’t have been adequate compensation for their superiority. By now the wind had dropped slightly to something like 11 on the Beaufort scale and Melbourne were unable to take advantage of it in the second period – town cannily pinning them in their own half – and a rolling maul brought the score to 19-0.

Carel Faurie then decided it was time for his usual yellow card and was soon followed to the dressing room by the rest of the cast as the heavens opened and lightning rendered it unsafe to continue, the treasurer appreciating the silver lining in

bar receipts as we thirsty spectators sought shelter in the clubhouse. Returning after 15 minutes, Melbourne scored a consolation try but the result was never in doubt, the rain continuing to plummet in biblical proportions transforming the game into a knock-on festival – and green and gold versus black and gold into brown against brown. I wouldn’t have minded but I’d taken my sunglasses with me.

Next up was the annual grudge-fest that is Melton away. Again in windy conditions, Oaks led 27-10 after tries from Harry Conan, Andrew Wallace and Toms Burton and Armstrong but a determined Melton performance in the second half used the muscle of their pack to bring the scores nervously level. Cometh the hour, cometh the Matthews and sure enough Mark M secured victory with a 30-yard penalty in a fierce crosswind with five minutes to go.

Notts Casuals were the next visitors to the Showground but rather spoiled what would have been a perfect month by grinding out an 11-11 draw against a somewhat denuded Oaks (six or seven first team regulars at prop Rhino’s wedding).

Stamford Town also travelled to Melton, winning more comfortably than Oaks – the

22-15 score not fully reflecting some excellent back play. It’s a measure of Town’s improvement that they’d lost 5-6 at home to Melton early in the season whilst adjusting to this level after promotion last term.

Next up were league leaders Belgrave and Town made a creditable start, showing the flair and team-play that leads many observers to feel they’re on the cusp of being a very good side. Belgrave can’t have found themselves 12-0 down many times this season, Harry Codey-Owen and Will Mardling with the tries.

Alas, it wasn’t to last as Belgrave’s all-conquering scrum exerted its authority.

Stamford’s pack were in reverse gear for the remainder and unable to deliver any quality ball, eventually losing 34-12.

However, skipper Matt Albinson will have taken many positives and Town went on to beat Notts Casuals 12-11 away and Dronfield 34-3 at home to rise to a season’s best seventh in the table.

Stoneygate are still enjoying life at their new home in Uppingham, both on the pitch at UCC and in their dedicated clubhouse above The Vaults. A 27-19 friendly win against Shepshed was followed by the visit of Leicester Lions. Stoneygate raced into a

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TIGERS TALK Leicester remained in contention for that all-important top four play-off spot in the Aviva Premiership with narrow victories over Worcester and Gloucester, although they looked far from convincing in either fixture against those two strugglers.

Boss Richard Cockerill told me: “Worcester played better than for some time and if they carry on like that they’ll give themselves every chance to be in this league next year. However, we should have done better in the first half when the pitch was half decent”.

The cavalry is coming over the hill for their end of season push with Ben Youngs, Tom Youngs and Ed Slater released by England, Graham Kitchener back, Manu Tuilagi about to return and even Tom Cro a possibility for April, having been ruled out for the season so far with a broken anterior cruciate ligament.

Cockerill, though pleased to see Youngs back, was sympathetic to his plight as he appears to drop down the pecking order for the England scrum half slot. “We’ve been up against motivated sides on boggy pitches and not playing well because of injuries. Ben’s done his best for the side but it’s been difficult for him to shine”.

Catching himself being understanding (not a side of Cockerill you see very o en, and always immediately hidden) he followed this up with a blast against the squad as a whole. “We’ve had some pretty direct conversations about who we are and how we want to play. We need to be honest with ourselves. We’re fi h in the table and the table doesn’t lie” Another player returning from injury is centre Anthony Allen and I asked him how the leg’s shaping up. “It’s hard to get back into the swing of things. Other muscles have grown around the injury to compensate but a er the Ulster game I was in pieces, so it was good to come through the match against Worcester”.

He was eloquent on the impact of all the other injuries that have blighted Tigers’ season. “We’ve had 12 different partnerships at centre this season. Every player runs slightly different lines and that split-second it takes to think where your partner’s going to be has a big impact. I think it’s a credit to the squad that we’re still in the mix”.

Which they are and, as Cockerill sees the race for fourth, “It’s between Quins, Sale, Exeter, Saracens, Wasps and ourselves. Let’s see who blinks first”.

I suspect it won’t be the eye of the tiger.

29-7 lead by the break, but this was the same weather-blighted Saturday as the Oakham-Melbourne fixture and “for the first time in 20 years”, according to club captain Graham Ough, their match was abandoned due to a waterlogged pitch.

Lions were gracious, accepting the defeat as it stood rather than requesting a replay.

Next up were those social rugby specialists from the village of Quorn.

Founded around November last year their vision is to “return to the traditional values that gave rugby football its rise as a community sport”.

Social doesn’t mean soft though, and this

Above

Anthony Allen is back from injury

was a “no quarters given” affair. However, Stoneygate’s superior speed and scrum was always going to be too much for them and tries from Ben Aspell, Steve Farrow, Tom Archer, Alex Brown and others meant a comfortable 73-0 victory.

Stamford College Old Boys had a month to forget, losing to Long Buckby, Old Newtonians and St Neots, two of them by some distance. The closest was against Old Newts, where they were within two points at half time but – you’ve guessed it – it was that diluvial Saturday and when the match restarted in a lagoon the opponent’s superior size and strength was a more

potent weapon than college’s back play, enabling them to finish 25-8 winners.

Also hoping for some selective amnesia will be Deepings, who’s self-dubbed “first XIV” lost 88-18 and 96-0 to Biggleswade and Vipers respectively. There’s something about the Green Machine that still inspires though. Vipers’ Peter Whyatt said: “Our players, coaches and supporters had nothing but praise for the commitment and camaraderie that your team showed on a cold, miserable afternoon. Deepings RUFC, you can hold your heads high on any ground in the world and good luck for the rest of the season.” Ain’t rugby brilliant?

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2073 MBC-Active Advert 190mm x 55mm-Chosen_v2_MBC-Active Advert 190mm x 55mm 20/02/2014 14:21 Page 1

Design

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21/02/2014 14:56

Roundup

Hock

Hockey

Last m

Last minute heartaches

B

ourne Deeping Dragons travelled to Colchester for a must-win game to help with league survival. The previous encounter had seen Colchester victorious so the win would mean all the more to the travelling side – if only the A14 wasn’t closed and the whole squad made it to the game.

Starting with a bare 11 due to the travelling issues, Bourne Deeping struggled initially, but found some rhythm and playing some great attacking hockey – Scott David Downie made a great run down the right and fired across the D to a well-received deflection from Nick Glover into the goal.

With the Dragons’ tails up it didn’t take long to find second and third goals although the scorer of the third, Phil Arnold, turned from hero to villain as he was awarded a yellow card and a sit on the sideline for the remainder of the half after the umpires decided his challenge on the Colchester attacker was a bit rough.

Unfortunately the tiredeness of having a bare 11 for the first half counted in the second and wave after wave of Colchester attacks saw them pull back two goals. What was then judged by the Dragons’ faithful as a ‘dubious decision’ saw the home side get a penalty in the last minute, which was despatched for a 3-3 draw.

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The game at Peterborough for the seconds really did have everything; goals, cards and controversy.

Even the weather was full of extremes, from bright sunshine to horizontal rain at times.

Bourne Deeping started well: Henry Winfield-Chislett caused chaos running from midfield and Paul Tancred and Russ Seton both went close to opening the scoring.

However, set through on goal a Peterborough forward was brought down by Dragons goalkeeper Tim Beaver who conceded a penalty flick and to add insult to injury, a yellow card and a 15 minute sin-bin.

Phil Tokens then donned the pads but despite a great rally from the Dragons, their defensive efforts were not enough to stop Peterborough doubling their tally to take a 2-0 lead into the half time break.

A positive and calm half-time talk saw Bourne Deeping rally: Jason Purllant bundled home the Dragons’ first goal, and Seton finally got his eye in to smash home the equaliser.

Tancred duly obliged to take his tally for the season to eight as Bourne Deeping took the lead for the first time in the match with just five minutes to go.

However, Peterborough were not finished yet and in the final moments a shot saved by

Beaver was cleared off the line by Tokens only for his clearance to be smashed back past him by a Peterborough forward lurking at the far post.

Sometimes the most difficult games to do yourselves justice in are those where the opposition is so much weaker than you, as BD’s thirds found.

Alford are a different proposition away from home as they put out an entirely different side with their influential players absent.

So although a little predictable at times the chances for BD kept coming right from the start. With four goals in the first half the demands were for at least the same return from the second half, and they were duly delivered.

Tim Kisiel opened the scoring early on, Joe Allen was on hand to convert half of the haul, Andrew Dodds grabbed a brace with Pete Moisey making amends for last week from the flick spot.

The Dragons defence was largely untroubled throughout and able to support and add to the attack but Joe Wray was called into action and was made to work for his clean sheet with a couple of fine saves.

But 8-0 tells its own story. Makes a change from heart-breaking last minute 3-3 draws, anyway.

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Bour survi more game

65

22/02/2014 11:58

Roundup

Equestrianism

Williams family enjoy success in the saddle

BY JULIA DUNGWORTH

D

espite the high winds and rain, the equestrian world around here hasn’t been that badly affected with suprisingly few competitions called off so far this year. Certainly, the hunting fraternity hasn’t been put off.

The Fitzwilliam hunted in Burghley Park on Saturday, February 5, and yet again saw a record number of foot followers.

It was even reported that Stamford was brought to a standstill for all the spectator traffic going to watch. Definitely not a day for the faint-hearted, if you had seen the colour of the breeches when they had finished.

Local show jumper Mark Williams has had a good start to 2014 with two high profile wins at Bury Farm.

In the Development Classic, Mark had three rides in the 10 horse jump-off for the Winter Grade C qualifier, which he won on Dawn Ross’ Extensa G. Mark was also fourth, gaining another qualifying position, on his own Pronto van Overis, a ride he shares with his daughter Lauren.

At Arena UK Mark lifted the Winter B&C Royal International Horse Show qualifier and is now Hickstead bound with Extensa G, having shaved an incredible six seconds

off the runner up’s time set by Emma Stoker and Townhead Casita R, who secured the second Hickstead ticket.

Mark was also in the money at this show on Pronto van Overis and Shane Sutton’s Caddy Stroller.

The Williams family continued their winning form at their next outing to Arena UK when Lauren Williams won the Discovery with the home bred Angelina Z and James Williams was placed in the 1.20 open on Valerie Whitfield’s impressive and talented Gore.

Wittering Academy and myself ran the first of three Arena Eventing Trials at Grange Farm at Wittering on February 14-16.

There were two days of training prior to the competition on the Sunday, which was still well attended in spite of some horrible weather.

Luckily, the academy owns a full set of cross country-style portable fences, with fences such as roll tops and arrowheads, which even the strongest gusts couldn’t shift.

It was all worthwhile, as on the Sunday it was the brightest warmest day of the year so far, which I’m sure helped with the big turn out of competitors.

Emma Vergette riding Star was

victorious in the first class, narrowly beating Elisha Beehoo, who unfortunately suffered a little navigational error while on the course!

The second class, being the 85cm, was the best attended, but with the fewest clear rounds.

Emma Harrison, riding her mother Jo’s Scrumpy Jack, took the spoils with the only clear.

The 1m Open turned out to be the most competitive, with some super fast rounds and great riding demonstrations.

Vanessa Lowther riding Just Guestouse rode a beautiful round for first place in front of a delighted Nikki Higgins on Valentino who took their second second place as they were the bridesmaids in the previous class, too.

This was the first of three competitions, which involve jumping show jumps, followed by cross country in an arena, which is a growing sport in itself especially with the weather like it is at the moment.

The next competitions are on March 15 and the April 27, both with training sessions the day before, for those that would like it.

This is held as a league, with great prizes at the end, sponsored by Spillers Horse Feeds and myself.

6 6 M A RC H 2014 ///

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22/02/2014 11:57

2056 MMPS-March Full Page Active Advert_MMPS-March Full Page Active Advert 07/02/2014 16:03 Page 1

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